Poisoning threat rises with winter's cold weather by Elizabeth D. Pressner With the approach of winter, many Goochland homes will be warmed by the toasty glow of a wood stove or kerosene heater. Dark evenings will be brightened by the cheery light from lamps that burn lamp oil, a fuel that is almost identical to kerosene. If you use these fuels, take action to prevent poisoning problems. Children can be killed by swallowing even a small amount of kerosene or lamp oil. Many lamp oils come in pretty colors and scents that are very attractive to a small child.
Toddlers often drink the lamp oil out of the lamp itself.
Don't leave these lamps in reach of children. Consider putting your lamps away until your children are old enough to outgrow the habit of tasting everything - usually around the age of 6. The kerosene in heaters is often kept in large metal cans and put into the heater using a plastic pump or siphoning device. Poisoning can happen when a small child puts the end of the plastic tube in his or her mouth, drinking the few drops of fuel left there. Another situation that has caused poisoning is the practice of keeping a small jar of kerosene near a wood stove for starting wood fires.