Spring Cleaning

Safe, Sound and Family Friendly

By Jacqueline Rupp

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Safety when cleaning is something to practice, especially when you have children in the house. Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council, cautions spring cleaners to use extra care when working around the house.

Many injuries to adults occur during home improvements, and household cleaning especially can pose a danger to small children. One of the biggest dangers to children is poisoning. In fact, according to the Home Safety Council, every year two million children under the age of 6 are accidentally poisoned.

Appy urges parents to "get in the habit of reading labels and following them exactly, gather up all dangerous chemicals and store in a locked area, not just under a sink or a high place." When using chemical cleaners make sure the room is well ventilated and the product is put away immediately after use. Extremely special care should be taken when using a product labeled "danger."

"Remember: Nothing is out of a child's reach," says Appy. It's important to note that the Poison Control Cente

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