(HealthDayNews) -- Many common household chemicals are potential health hazards.
You should use these chemicals only for their stated purposes and you must store and dispose of them properly, says the University of Iowa Health Care Web site.
In order to protect yourself and your family:
Read the label before you use any chemical, and be sure to heed all instructions and cautions.
Use any recommended safety equipment such as rubber gloves, dust masks or safety glasses.
Safely dispose of all unmarked chemicals. Never use food or drink containers to store chemicals.
Don't mix chemicals, which may form dangerous or even lethal combinations.
Don't sniff chemicals in order to identify them.
Store your chemicals in locked cabinets and teach children about chemical safety.
Keep Syrup of Ipecac on hand. It forces vomiting of any ingested chemical. Use it only when and directed by the poison control center or the chemical product label. With some chemicals, such as petroleum products, using Syrup of Ipecac may cause more harm to the victim.
