WE all know our homes are full of dangerous items – cleaning products with poisonous chemicals, candles left unattended, swimming pools, stairs etc.
Some dangers in our homes fly under the radar.
Mikey Rox for Wisebread.com said the following things are important to take note of:
Extension cords
Extension cords help us power the increasing number of electronic devices we have in our homes, especially when outlets are limited.
They’re a convenience in one sense, but they also can be very dangerous.
Overcrowding an extension cord or power strip is a no-no, of course, but continual use of an extension cord can cause the insulation to rapidly deteriorate, creating a dangerous shock and fire hazard.
Be sure to put your extension cords away after every use as, if left unattended around children, they can present a hanging or choking hazard.
Tumble dryers
These present two household hazards.
The first is an entrapment hazard for your children, so it’s important to discuss appliance safety with your kids at an early age.
The other is the risk of fire caused by lint accumulation and reduced airflow.
To avoid these hazards, be sure to clean out your lint trap after each load, and make sure there’s enough space between the dryer unit and the wall so the vent duct isn’t restricted in any way and only run the dryer when you’re at home and awake.
Mothballs
The primary ingredient in mothballs is naphthalene, which causes a breakdown of red blood cells in children with a genetic condition called G6PD deficiency. Pediatricians in Australian called for a ban on naphthalene after it was linked to one baby’s death and brain damage in two others.
Paradichlorobenzene is another common ingredient in mothballs, the exposure to which has been linked to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, eye and nasal irritation in humans, and kidney and liver damage in pets.
Polycarbonate Plastics (BPA)
Polycarbonate plastic is used to make eye-glass lenses, lightweight luggage, computer cases and in most of these instances, the danger is slim to none.
When polycarbonate plastic is used to make food storage containers, however, that all changes.
The controversy comes from the degradation of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) when it comes into contact with water.
When tested on animals, it may have been responsible for the enlargement of reproductive organs in female mice.
Because of these potential dangers, many plastic food-storage containers now advertise that they’re BPA-free.
