To Dads….on Mother’s Day

This post goes out to the all the Dads trying to make Mother’s Day special.  You may want to let Mom sit back and relax while you provide some household cleaning, help out with daily medications for the kids, or possibly even get the little critters involved in a little craft making! All of these are great ideas and traditions, but need to be handled with care.

Here are some tips to keep you, Mom, and the kids safe: Read more »

“So, What’s The Most Dangerous Poison Around The House?”

Toxicity Hazards of Household Drain Cleaners

By: Tony Burda and Irene Hong

The title of this piece is a common question asked by students, residents, and new employees undergoing training at the Illinois Poison Center (IPC).  I could come up with several things that are pretty scary for kids and pets to get into, such as charcoal lighter fluid or antifreeze.  But, in my opinion, the most dangerous chemicals that can be found in the average household are those used to open or clean drains and sewers. 

Tony:  This lesson was made crystal clear to me in a very tangible way shortly after starting to work in the poison center.  I had moved into an older home and discovered that the second floor bathroom sink drained slowly.  I tried using bleach and plunging with no improvement in the problem.  So I purchased some crystal drain opener, tossed in a spoonful into the drain, added water, and waited for the magic to happen.  Within minutes, I could hear the water literally boiling in the gooseneck of the drainpipe.  Strange smells emanated from the sink drain.  I became curious so I touched the drainpipe just to see Read more »