Washington Health System

Handling Your HARSH CHEMICALS FROM CLEANSERS AND THE DUST AND DANDER YOU KICK UP WHILE CLEANING CAN BE ANNOYING OR EVEN DANGEROUS. YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY WITH A FEW SIMPLE SAFET Y TRICKS. COVER YOUR SKIN Some household cleaners can burn aer even brief exposure. Covering your hands with rubber gloves keeps harsh chemicals from harming your skin. You may also want to wear a mask and goggles when cleaning. BE GREEN IN THE KITCHEN Not all products are safe to use on surfaces where food is prepared. Natural ingredients, such as hot water, baking soda, lemon and vinegar, can be as eective as chemical cleaners. KEEP THE AIR MOVING Ventilation is important for keeping harsh chemical fumes out of the air. Turn on bathroom fans, open windows and doors, and watch for signs of airborne chemical exposure, such as light- headedness and dizziness. DON'T MIX CLEANERS Bleach and ammonia release a toxic, airborne chemical when combined. Never mix these or other chemicals. STORE CHEMICALS OUT OF REACH Never put chemicals in a container with a dierent label and always store them out of reach of children. TAKE EMERGENCIES SERIOUSLY Accidental poisoning with household cleaners is an emergency. Call 911 for help or visit the Emergency Department if someone is exposed. » NOT SURE IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY? CALL POISON CONTROL AT (800) 222-1222. DON'T LET IT HANDLE YOU. HEADACHE Safety First— HEADACHE HEADACHE HEADACHE HEADACHE HEADACHE HEADACHE HEADACHE HEADACHE Spring Cleaning Edition Often we find ourselves stuck with a headache we can't get rid of. Finding an eective pain management method need not be a pain of its own. » Take medication—While over-the-counter pain medicine may not get rid of your headache entirely, it can at least dull it to manageable levels until you can go home and dim the lights. Try a combination medicine of caeine and ibuprofen. » Try accupressure—Massaging the area between your thumb and index nger could help. » Eat and drink—Oen headaches are caused by being dehydrated or hungry, so keep snacks, such as almonds and fruit, on hand along with a full bottle of cold water. » Relax—If your headaches are caused by stress, take a few minutes out of your day to focus on your breathing and your chosen stress-relief method. Yoga poses designed to be done in your chair might do the trick. » Turn to mint—A dab of peppermint oil rubbed on your temples could be the answer you're looking for. » Take a walk—ere's a chance your headache is from sitting in front of your computer all day. Take a brisk walk around the oce to give your eyes a break and get the blood owing again. » IF YOU ARE HAVING FREQUENT HEADACHES, CONSULT YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN. TO FIND ONE, VISIT WHS.ORG. SPR I NG 2016 | connections whs.org 15

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