Each year thousands of children are exposed to chemicals on the farm. The only way to prevent it is to lock up all forms of chemicals. Exposure can happen in a number of ways:
- Ingestion by eating or swallowing
- Contact with the skin or eyes
- Inhaling or breathing it
By teaching children about the dangers of chemical exposure, you will help them understand the importance of avoiding contact. Younger children should be taught to stay away from all items which they are not familiar with and instructed about warning symbols. Older children can be taught the significance of warning symbols, words, colors and the distinctions between the levels of danger.
- CAUTION – Minor or moderate injury: Yellow
- WARNING – Possibility of death or serious injury: Orange
- DANGER – High probability of death or serious injury: Red
It’s important to store chemicals in their proper containers. In particular, avoid containers children are familiar with like pop bottles or kitchen containers. Many chemicals look like other nontoxic substances to a child. Gasoline could look like a juice drink or motor oil may look like pancake syrup. To prevent accidental exposure to chemicals follow these guidelines:
- Lock chemicals in their original, labeled container
- Teach kids warning signs and what to avoid
- Discard all empty chemical containers and accessories properly
- Remove children and toys from the area when applying chemicals
- Wash chemical soiled clothing separately
- Close all containers when not in use, even if only for a moment
- Farm chemicals are not to be handled by youth
The Next Generation: Farm Safety and Health 