By: Mayo Clinic Staff

The average home is full of items that can poison a child. Some of them are self-evident — roach spray and rat poison. But others are more surprising, such as iron pills, furniture polish, windshield washer fluid and mouthwash. 

You can help prevent childhood poisonings by identifying the poisons in your home and ensuring that they are stored safely.

It is possible for a child to die from liver damage after swallowing as few as five adult-strength vitamin pills with iron. Children can also start vomiting blood or have bloody diarrhea less than an hour after ingesting even a few iron supplements.

Don't take medicine in front of small children; they often imitate adults. And never refer to medicine as candy. Adult medications that are especially dangerous for children include:
•    Diet pills and other stimulants
•    Decongestants
•    Antidepressants
•    Blood pressure pills
•    Iron supplements

When children swallow alcohol, they can potentially have seizures, go into a coma or even die. And there are many types of alcohol — each used in different household products.
For example, wood alcohol (methanol) is used in antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, shellac, varnish and paint remover. Other types of alcohol are used in mouthwash, facial cleaners, after-shaves, cologne and antibacterial hand cleaners.

Drain openers, toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers and oven cleaners can cause chemical burns, which often damage tissue just as much as actual flames do. Dishwasher soap, bleach and ammonia are all toxic if swallowed. If bleach and ammonia are mixed, they produce a poisonous gas. Ammonia also comes in the form of smelling salts capsules, which could be mistaken for candy.

Furniture polish is part of a broad category (hydrocarbons) that includes gasoline, kerosene, lamp oil, motor oil, lighter fluid and paint thinners. Hydrocarbons are among the leading causes of poisoning death in children.
 
While most child poisonings involve eating or drinking toxic substances, poisons also can enter the body through the skin or eyes, or by being inhaled.
For example, many of the chemicals used to kill bugs and other pests can be absorbed through the skin, or the fumes can be inhaled. Some of these chemicals affect the nervous system and can make it difficult to breathe.
 
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly gas produced when fuel is burned. Common sources of CO include cars, lawn mowers, furnaces, fireplaces and grills.