You might think your home is a safe haven. You’re the one who cleans it, so of course you know what kind of hazards are in there, right? Wrong! A recent study found that many people don’t know about some of the most dangerous products in their homes. This blog post will inform you to know what kinds of hazards are in your home in order to protect you and your family.
1. What are household hazards and how can they harm you
Imagine this: you’re busy cooking a meal for your family and suddenly the hot grease splashes up and badly burns one of your arms. What is going on? Why does it hurt so much, even after washing off the greasy substance that caused it in the first place? The answer to these questions lies with something called household hazards- common substances or situations inside homes that can harm people physically or mentally when they are exposed to them over long periods of time. For example, think about what happens if someone has asthma – prolonged exposure could cause increased strain from coughing which may lead to wheezing episodes due to bronchospasm (constriction)or hyperinflation(excess air). Others include things like secondhand smoke, asbestos, and lead-based paint.
How can household hazards harm you?
There are many ways that residential hazards can affect people in the home. They may cause direct physical injury (like we described earlier), or they may result in a chemical reaction with another substance that produces harmful byproducts. For instance, if someone has asthma and is exposed to the chemical called formaldehyde, they may have an increased risk of wheezing.
2. The most common household hazards and why they’re dangerous
- Laundry detergent: A laundry detergent spill is one of the biggest dangers in your home, because it can cause skin or eye irritation.
- Paints: Paints are also a big hazard to anyone who may ingest some while painting or chewing on a paint brush.
- Batteries: Batteries have lead inside them, which can cause serious illness in children if swallowed.
- Personal care products: personal care products like shampoo and lotion could contain ingredients that may irritate your skin or make you sick.
- Chemicals: chemicals like bleach are hazardous because they can be mixed together to create a dangerous chemical reaction. For example, mixing chlorine with ammonia produces toxic fumes called chloramine which can kill you!
3. How to avoid these hazards in your homeThe best way to be safe from these hazards in your home is to take precautions:
- Keep laundry detergents and other cleaning products put up high, away from children who may want to taste them or spill them on themselves. You can also use childproof containers for some types of cleaners like window cleaners.
- Paint with a paint brush instead of your fingers or hands.
- Keep personal care products in childproof containers and away from children as well.
- Take precautions when using chemicals like bleach, ammonia, formaldehyde, etc., by wearing gloves or masking your face to avoid coming into contact with it.
- Remove household hazards that are no longer being used, like paint that is dried up or old batteries containing lead.
- If you have things in your home that are made with asbestos, take care not to disturb them and make sure someone else knows they’re there too. Have a professional come out for clean ups!
The hazards in your home can be a serious threat to you and those around you. The best way to avoid these dangers is by taking precautions with things like laundry detergent, paints, personal care products, chemicals, etc. If any of this sounds dangerous or unfamiliar- contact us! Our team has the experience needed to help homes stay safe from household hazards so they can focus on what really matters!
