EAST GRANBY, Conn. -- Some common household products can pose danger, and children who find them could risk serious illness or death.

"There are a lot of things you don't know about kitchen safety in general," said Milton Jacobs, a certified safety professional.

Eyewitness News asked Jacobs to take a good look at a kitchen for potential dangers.

"Typical stuff we use in the home for dishwashing, it has sodium hydroxide in it, a potential lye, which burns. So, these are things you want to be aware of. Keep them up high in a closet away from your kids," he said.

If a child drinks dishwashing soap, it can really hurt them, and the same thing goes for rubbing alcohol.

Jacobs found something in a spray used to clean shears that he didn't know at first.

"You spray this stuff and it gets into your breathing; it has a substance that could be cancer-causing, a chemical called ofenalphenal. It's a substance banned in the state of California," Jacobs said.

It's important to read labels and remember that children will touch anything they can get their hands on.

"Little ant traps around the home are low on the ground. Kids may grab them and put them in their mouth," Jacobs said.

The safety expert even has precautionary advice about the energy-efficient light bulbs.

"They have mercury in them. There's not a big concern with mercury, it's a small quantity, but if these were to fall, and we had to clean them up, most people would get a vacuum," Jacobs said.

Instead, Jacobs recommends using a piece of cardboard to collect the glass, and then throw it away. They may seem a bit funny, but safety glasses can really protect you.

"You wear them around your home when you are using chemicals, when you are working with pesticides; they have side shields. And also, wear gloves," Jacobs said.

For parents who stock up on cold medications, Jacobs has a warning.

"If a child gets a hold of this, you could have a lot of issues. A lot of colorful items -- this is the type of stuff you should clean out and get it away," he said.

Even if you do all the things you are supposed to, accidents can still happen. So, it's important to know what to do immediately: You should always have the phone number for poison control on hand at all times.

More Information

Safety Solution Consultants Inc.

Connecticut Poison Control Center: 800-222-1222