Be very careful folks--a tragedy that shouldn't have happened

[greybeard]

http://amarillo.com/news/2017-01-02...family-members-stable-one-transported-lubbock
Manufacturers, state and federal agencies do a very good job trying to protect us from ourselves, but we MUST follow the labels and the laws.
They are very lucky an explosion didn't take place

4 minors dead and the rest of the family hospitalized in Texas after some family members attempted to use a water hose to wash a very toxic insecticide from under their home. The specimen label clearly states it is not for residential use and only to be sold according to label. Restricted only to lic applicators and to avoid any circumstance that would allow water to come in contact with it.


From:
http://www.cdms.net/ldat/ld2RR001.pdf

 

[babsbag]

How very sad. I can't imagine being the parents and losing 4 children is such a senseless way.

 

[Latestarter]

terrible shame. I feel sorry for all involved.

 

[promiseacres]

so very sad. Follow instructions, chemicals kill!!!

 

[Mike CHS]

I saw that on the news last night. What a tragedy that should never have happened.

 

[Bunnylady]

My heart hurts for this family, so sad. The news accounts are a bit garbled, but from what I can gather, this is a restricted use pesticide, which means only licensed applicators can even buy it (and hopefully learned enough respect for such materials in the process of acquiring their license, they will read and follow the label directions!) Apparently, someone sold this stuff on the black market. As dramatic as that sounds, it could mean something as simple as, "you got rats? We got some stuff we use at work, works real good; I'll get you some," and dumping some from a bag into a bottle or can the next time they were in the storeroom. The label may not have ever been within miles of the house; the person who actually put it under the house may not have had a clue about what they were dealing with. All the rules and regs and hoops to jump through, and this stuff still happens.

 

[greybeard]

AMARILLO, TX (KFDA) -

Many are wondering how the Phosphine gas responsible for killing four children entered the home. We've learned lack of education on how to use the chemical compound led to the deaths of four Amarillo children.

Aluminum Phosphide is often used as a fumigant to get rid of pests like gophers and mice. It is highly toxic to not only those animals, but humans as well.

When Aluminum Phosphide is mixed with water or any moisture, it produces a toxic Phosphine gas, which is what took the lives of these occupants. One resident of the east Amarillo home was trying to kill mice and placed the pesticide underneath their home, then applied water.

"They were already getting an odor and they were trying to suppress the vapors. He didn't know enough about the chemical," said Amarillo Fire Department Lieutenant Josh Whitney. "The chemical is only sold to people that have a license to apply it, and he got this black market. He applied it yesterday, and then so over the night is whenever all the toxic gasses were leeching to inside the house "

Aluminum Phosphide is so strong it is commonly referred to as a "restricted use" pesticide. Whitney tells us when inhaled, it attacks the respiratory system. And if someone is lucky enough to survive inhalation, they will likely experience long term health issues.

"IDLH is 50 parts per million, which 50 parts per million means it only takes 50 drops in a room full of a million to be able to become toxic and kill you. So this is extremely, extremely toxic," said Whitney.

Newschannel 10 drove around to try and find pesticides even close to these levels and...no luck. Many mice and gopher killers are now made with natural ingredients.

Whitney has some words of advice for anyone considering killing any pests.

"This is known, this happens across the United States and it's when people get a hold of stuff they don't know how to use and they don't do enough research. If you're going to apply chemicals to your house, have somebody that's certified put these chemicals down and don't put your family in harms way."

 

[Baymule]

Terminix.

 

[samssimonsays]

So sad.

 

[lcertuche]

So sad for the family. Between the packrats, mice and cockroaches I know how frustrated it is to have infestations that normal sprays, traps, etc. doesn't work but that is a heavy price to pay. Too heavy.