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Why the Garage is Dangerous for Children

175 views · Published 12 August 2016 · 1:46 · Indexed 6 November 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2016 · Science & Technology

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It’s one of the most dangerous places for your child. Each year thousands of children are taken to the hospital after ingesting poisonous household products from the garage. 

Dr. Timothy Dougherty, a toxicologist with Lee Memorial Health System, says keeping your child out of the garage could save their life. “In a garage you have windshield washer fluid, that’s methanol, that’s a toxic alcohol. You have antifreeze, that’s ethylene glycol, that’s a problem. Windshield washer fluid looks blue and kids will easily drink it. Tire cleaner which contains hydrogen fluoride that’s extremely toxic. If that gets sprayed on you it will take the calcium out of your body.”

That toxic alcohol can lead to blindness. If a child drinks antifreeze it could lead to kidney failure. 

Other garage products he says a child should stay away from are fertilizers, paint, pool chemicals, window cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, and gasoline. If a child ingests any of these products they may begin to drool or have difficulty walking or speaking. “By the time you get to those symptoms, the damage a lot of time is done. If you wait till they’re drooling because they’ve ingested a caustic product the damage is already there,” said Dr. Dougherty. 

But most products are sold in a child protective package. “Don’t take them out of that child protective package and put them in a Mason jar just because it’s easier for you,” said Dr. Dougherty. 

Most importantly, he says know what kind of products you’re buying. If they could be dangerous for a child make sure to keep it out of their reach. 


View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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