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RURAL-URBAN RECORD, May 10, 2021 Page 17

How to respond to pesticide poisoning Outdoor televisions up the ante in outdoor
living areas

Tending to a lawn and cide. If inside, move the per- the body, and eye damage Outdoor living areas pro-
garden can be a great way son to fresh air immediately can occur within minutes of vide a great way for home-
to spend time in the great (doors and windows should exposure. owners to spend more time
outdoors. It’s also an en- ultimately be opened to re- · Substance on the skin: outdoors doing the things they
joyable way to improve a duce the risk of others be- Drench the skin with water love. That includes watching
home’s curb appeal. ing exposed). Contact the for at least 15 minutes and their favorite shows. Many
Though many homeown- local fire department if you then wash skin and hair homeowners take televisions
ers prefer a wholly organ- think you need a respirator thoroughly. Discard con- designed for indoors outside
ic approach to lawn care prior to helping the victim. taminated clothing or thor- when hosting game watch-
and gardening, sometimes If the victim is wearing tight oughly wash it separate es or movie nights under the
pests and other problems clothing, loosen that cloth- from other laundry. stars. While such televisions
force people to apply pes- ing. Give artificial respira- · Swallowed pesticide: If can function outdoors, unless
ticides around their prop- tion to a victim whose skin a pesticide has been swal- they’re specifically designed
erties. The application of is blue or if the victim has lowed and the victim is still for outdoor use, chances
pesticides can make home- stopped breathing. conscious, he or she should are they are not protected like rain without losing their for indoor televisions. For
owners, and anyone who · Substance in the eye: If a drink a small amount of wa- against the elements. Spe- functionality. Many outdoor example, outdoor televisions
spends time on their prop- poison has entered the eye, ter to dilute the pesticide. cial enclosures built to pro- televisions also are designed should offer wide viewing
erties, including children, wash the eye quickly and Only induce vomiting on the tect indoor televisions can to handle reflection from the angles, as backyards tend to
vulnerable to pesticide poi- gently with cool running wa- advice of a poison control do just that, but homeowners sun, ensuring that homeown- be bigger than living rooms.
soning. ter for 15 minutes or more. center or physician. also can consider televisions ers won’t have to limit their That means more people can
According to the Environ- Use only water and do not Pesticide exposure can designed for outdoor use. outdoor viewing experienc- make it over for backyard
mental Protection Agency, use eye drops, chemicals be very dangerous. It’s im- Outdoor televisions have be- es to evenings or late nights game watches and movie
people exposed to pesti- or drugs. It’s imperative perative that people who come more popular as more when the sun has set. When nights, which underscores
cides may exhibit a host of that people act quickly if a plan to apply pesticides in and more homeowners look shopping for outdoor televi- the importance of wide view-
symptoms. External irritants substance has gotten into their lawns and gardens to extend their living spaces sions, consumers should do ing angles that make it easy
that come into contact with the eye, as membranes in learn how to respond if they outdoors, and these unique- their homework and pay at- for people seated all over the
the skin can cause redness, the eyes act faster than in or someone on their proper- ly designed televisions can tention to features they may yard to make out what’s on
itching or pimples, and such any other external part of ty is exposed to pesticides. often withstand elements not consider when shopping the screen.
substances also may con-
tribute to allergic reactions
marked by redness, swell-
ing or blistering. Stinging
and swelling in the mucous
membranes of the eyes,
nose, mouth, and throat
also may occur after being
exposed to pesticides.
Pesticides also can
cause internal injuries to
a person’s organs, poten-
tially leading to significant
issues. The EPA notes that
the lungs, stomach and
nervous system all can be
affected when pesticides
are swallowed, inhaled or
absorbed through the skin.
People experiencing lung
injuries after exposure to
pesticides may experience
shortness of breath, heavy
salivation (drooling) or rap-
id breathing. Injuries to the
stomach may lead to symp-
toms such as nausea, vom-
iting, abdominal cramps,
or diarrhea. If the nervous
system is affected by pes-
ticide exposure, people
may experience excessive
fatigue, sleepiness, head-
ache, muscle twitching, and
numbness.
If pesticide poisoning is
suspected, it’s imperative
that someone, be it the
person who was poisoned,
the parent of a child who
may have been exposed
or a medical professional
treating the affected per-
son, identify the type of poi-
soning that has occurred.
That’s because the EPA
notes that the appropriate
treatment will depend on
the kind of poisoning that
has occurred.
· Chemical burn on skin: If
treating a chemical burn on
the skin, the EPA advises
drenching the skin with wa-
ter for at least 15 minutes.
All contaminated clothing
should be removed and
then skin and hair should
be thoroughly cleaned with
soap and water.
· Inhaled poison: The re-
sponse to an inhaled poison
will depend on where the
person is at the time of ex-
posure. If outside, move the
person away from any area
recently treated with pesti-