Health Topics for Personal Safety

Department of Emergency Medicine

Emergency Medical Services Learning Resources Center

Household chemical safety checklist

Many chemicals found in the home are potentially dangerous. These include cleaning fluids, gasoline, lye, furniture polish, bug killers, and ammonia. Use chemicals only for their intended purpose. Store and dispose of them properly.

To insure your safety:

• Read the label before you buy any chemical. This will tell you the intended use, and how dangerous the chemical is. Be sure to pick the least dangerous chemical for the job.
• Have the required safety equipment, such as rubber gloves, dust masks, or safety glasses on hand. Follow label instructions when using the product.
• Dispose of all unmarked chemicals. If chemicals require dilution, mix only enough for your present use. Be sure to clearly label all containers. Never use food or drink containers to store chemicals.
• Never mix chemicals. For example, ammonia and bleach form a hazardous gas when mixed.
• Do not sniff chemicals to identify them, as they may have toxic fumes.
• If you have young children in your home, keep all chemicals stored in locked cabinets. Teach your older children about using chemicals safely.
• Keep Syrup of Ipecac on hand. This will force vomiting of any ingested chemical. Use it only when and as directed by the poison control center, or the product label. Improper use such as with petroleum product ingestion may result in more damage.
• Keep the telephone number of your poison control center posted by all of your phones. If you do not have a local or state number, call 911 for emergency help.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File PERS4872.rf2 VRS# 4872 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1999, 2002 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.