Zorba Paster: Watch For Potential Poisons In The Home

It’s nice to be ahead of the curve. That’s not always the case with me, but sometimes I hit the sweet spot.

Two years ago I talked about those tasty-looking laundry detergent pods. I was vindicated when I read Wall Street Journal reporting showing at least seven people have died from accidental poisoning, with more than 13,000 exposure cases reported to poison centers in 2014.

This is a 20 percent increase from 2013. And this poison problem isn’t just with little kids but also with adults with dementia who think that this is candy.

Young kids put things in their mouths all the time — I know that because I’m a father of four and I also remember doing something like that. Back in the day — I was 7 at the time — I couldn’t wait to open up the new different colored toothpaste that my father had bought. As soon as I had squeezed out the last bit of Pepsodent, I opened up the new blue Colgate only to find out that it wasn’t toothpaste at all but shaving cream. I can still taste it today.

My point is, kids ingest stuff all the time. And regular detergent is on their menu but it’s not as toxic as the high-density stuff you see in those pods.

So I have some recommendations for this: Keep those pods safe and out of harm’s way. The same for dishwasher detergent pods that are under the sink and easy to get.

Put them in kid-proof cabinets or a box that they can’t easily open. If you have a memory-challenged adult do the same thing.

And while we’re on the topic of poisons, I have some thoughts. At least once a year, go through your house, look at every nook and cranny — cabinets under the sink, in the basement, garage, backyard or anywhere you store things — and look at any poisons that might be there. We have become a society obsessed with cleanliness when we should be more vigilant about unused chemicals, insecticides, paints and cleaners that are potentially dangerous.

And do not forget the medicine chest.

Any controlled drug such as hydrocodone should be kept away from curious eyes, especially teenage ones. There is many a grandparent that might leave their painkiller or sleeping pill out in the open. It may not be a poison but it’s certainly dangerous.

My spin: Keep it safe. Toss it right.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this piece said that 2014 saw more than 13,000 emergency room visits related to detergent pods. That number applies to reports to poison centers. It has been updated.