CAUTION: Why You Need to be Careful With COVID-19 At-Home Tests
At-home tests for COVID-19 are now readily available. The U.S. government has been sending four free test kits to interested homeowners. If you have these kits in your home, Poison Control is warning you to be careful.
The problem is the extraction vials used in these at-home COVID-19 antigen tests look a lot like eye droppers or other small squeeze bottles. If someone mistakes the vial for medication it can be dangerous.
A report by 9 & 10 News in Michigan found that the sodium azide used in COVID-19 tests can cause low blood pressure, dizziness, headaches and heart palpitations if swallowed. If it gets on skin it can cause irritation or chemical burns.
Poison Control says do not induce vomiting if you suspect someone in your home has swallowed liquid from a COVID-19 at-home test. You should call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or call 9-1-1 if symptoms are more urgent. For eye or skin exposure, you should rinse with warm tap water for about 20 minutes.
The Seniors Trust is committed to improving the lives of seniors by working to improve Social Security. It wants to see Congress pass the Social Security Expansion Act. This landmark piece of legislation will provide bigger monthly Social Security benefits, establish a more realistic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for seniors, and guarantee the long-term solvency of the Social Security program.
