Spring and summer are times when many people explore the outdoors and tend to their gardens. While these activities can be fun and rewarding, they can also come with hidden risks. Taking a few simple precautions can help prevent poison exposures and keep your outdoor space safe. In this blog, we’ll discuss hazards you may encounter while gardening and being outside, and ways to keep yourself and your family safe.
Poisonous Plants
With warm weather, you may notice new plants and flowers blooming in your area. You should know the names of plants and flowers in and around your yard and determine if they are poisonous or not. Our common plant list identifies some poisonous and non-poisonous plants. This list is not all-inclusive. If a plant is on this list, it doesn’t mean it’s deadly. Similarly, if a plant is not on the list, it can’t be assumed to be non-toxic. If you’re unsure whether a plant is poisonous or not, our experts are available to help. You can also read more on our previously published Poisonous Plants blog.
Pesticides and Herbicides
Pesticides and herbicides can be helpful in keeping your garden and yard looking its best, but they can also be dangerous if used incorrectly or if they are not stored properly. Pesticides help keep unwanted insects and bugs away, while herbicides help keep weeds away. Even if pesticide and herbicide products are labeled as “non-toxic” or “natural,” they can still be harmful if used or stored incorrectly.
Safe storage tips:
- Keep pesticides and herbicides in their original labeled containers. If you must put these products into a different container, make sure they are properly labeled and that the directions and any warnings are included as well.
- Do not store pesticides or herbicides near food or beverages. This can lead to an unintentional ingestion or misusing the product.
- Keep pesticides and herbicides stored up, away, and out of sight of children and pets.
Exposure prevention tips:
Pesticides and herbicides can enter the body through the skin, mouth, or eyes, or by being inhaled. Exposure to either of these products can cause symptoms.
Here are some tips to safely use pesticides and herbicides:
- Always read the label and follow the directions before use.
- Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks, shoes, gloves, and safety glasses. Remove and wash clothing when finished.
- Stay away from areas where products have been sprayed until the spray has dried or for as long as directed on the product label.
- Wash children’s hands and feet and pets’ noses and paws after they have been in grass that was recently sprayed.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms found in your yard may look like the ones in grocery stores or on your dinner plate, but they can be toxic if ingested. Identifying toxic mushrooms is done through chemical testing. Mushroom foraging should only be done by those who are very experienced. If a toxic or unknown mushroom is ingested, call 1-800-222-1222 right away. Do not wait for symptoms to call.
Venomous and Non-Venomous Snakes
You might see a snake while working in your yard or spending time outside. In Maryland, there are two venomous species: the timber rattlesnake and the eastern copperhead. In Washington, D.C., the eastern copperhead is the only venomous snake. Aside from these, there are 25 other snake species in Maryland and Washington, D.C. that are non-venomous. Both venomous and non-venomous snakes can and will bite you.
To protect yourself from a snake bite, wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and boots with durable materials to create a physical barrier between you and the snake. When hiking, stay on the clear pathways and look twice before climbing over rocks or logs. Learn how to identify venomous snakes using the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ snake page.
If you get bitten by any snake, wash the area with warm, soapy water, then call the Maryland Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 for expert guidance on next steps. If bitten by a venomous snake, do not try to cut or suck the venom out of the area. Do not use a tourniquet or apply ice, as this could make symptoms worse. If bitten by a non-venomous snake, speak with a health care provider about receiving a tetanus shot.
Ticks
Ticks are most active in Maryland between April and September and can be found on leaves and in grass. Both humans and pets are at risk of tick bites.
Similarly to snake bites, wearing long pants, long sleeves, and closed toe shoes can help prevent tick bites. You can also use insect repellent on clothing to help prevent bites. For your pets, be sure to speak with your veterinarian about tick prevention medicine.
If you have a tick on your skin, remove it using tweezers and follow these directions:
- Grasp the tick with the tweezers close to the skin.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure.
- Place the tick in a sealed bag or container for disposal.
- Double check the area on the skin to make sure the entire tick has been removed.
- Wash the area thoroughly with warm soapy water.
If symptoms develop, contact a health care provider. Bites from some ticks found in Maryland may result in illnesses such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or Lyme Disease.
More information about ticks can be found on the University of Maryland Extension’s Ticks in Maryland website.
Child Safety
Many children like to play outside or help out in their home garden. It is important to supervise children outside and teach them how to explore the outdoors safely before allowing them to be independent.
- Children may think that wild berries and mushrooms look like the ones they see in grocery stores or in their kitchen and be tempted to taste them. Teach children to stop and ask an adult before touching or tasting any wild berries, mushrooms, or other plants.
- Be familiar with and able to identify poisonous plants. Safely remove them from areas where children play outside to prevent exposures.
- Dress children in protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and pants if they are playing in wooded areas.
- Have children wash their hands after playing outside. This is especially important if they were playing in an area where pesticides or herbicides were used or where poisonous plants were growing.
If you suspect that you or someone else has been exposed to a hazard in your garden or yard, call the Maryland Poison Center right away. Do not wait for symptoms to occur to call. Our poison specialists are here to help 24/7/365. Calling 1-800-222-1222 is always free and confidential.
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