Parents urged to properly store hazardous chemicals
Dangerous chemicals kept in food or drink containers can be mistaken for food or drink by children, who will then ingest it.
The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) advises parents and guardians to exercise caution while handling dangerous household chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides.
This follows a disturbing number of food poisoning incidences documented by the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH). Exposure or contact with pesticides and herbicides causes most food poisoning incidents in children.
The CoE spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini, said pesticides and herbicides are two hazardous compounds commonly found in homes. In some circumstances, it causes poisoning in children because of inadequate storage.
“We plead with residents to store them out of reach of minors, keep them in their original package, and refrain from storing them in soft drink bottles or other containers as children or others may mistake them for food,” said Dlamini.
The city’s environmental health practitioners provide education and awareness on safe handling and storage of chemicals, and encourage residents to:
Safe handling and storage
• Store pesticides in their original containers with the label, which provides directions for usage, components, and first aid steps in the event of accidental poisoning;
• Use child-resistant packaging correctly, shutting the container tightly and keeping it out of children’s reach.
• Never reuse unoccupied pesticide containers.
• Never throw pesticides down the sink, toilet or sewer.
In the event of suspected poisoning, people should phone the 24-hour poison helpline on 0861 555 777 to be connected to a poison expert who will assist them.
