Guard against pesticide poisoning when spraying pesticides

(Agricultural Wealth Network)    The weather is now hot, and it is also the season when pesticides are sprayed frequently, so incidents of pesticide poisoning during spraying occur from time to time. Doctors remind farmers to pay attention to safety when spraying pesticides in the fields, to guard against poisoning, and to take preventive measures. Yuan Zhenyun, associate chief physician of the Emergency Department of Hebei Medical University First Hospital, emphasized that minors, nursing mothers, frail and sick people, those with a history of allergies and those with broken skin should not take part in spraying; when spraying, wear long-sleeved clothes and trousers and a mask, do not smoke, eat or wipe sweat with the hands during the work, and spray with the wind, skipping rows, in the morning and evening; after spraying, change and wash clothes, and wash promptly if the skin is contaminated; before spraying, adjust the sprayer and other tools, strictly control the concentration of the pesticide solution according to regulations, and take care to avoid contaminating water sources, livestock farms and other places; after spraying, wash the face and hands with soapy water before eating (after spraying trichlorfon, do not use soapy water to wash the face and hands; use clean water instead); do not throw used pesticide bottles away carelessly, to prevent environmental pollution, and even more do not let children play with them; leftover pesticides must be placed in a safe place out of children's reach to prevent accidental ingestion; wash the tools used for spraying, put up markers at the field edge, and prevent people and livestock from entering for 3 to 5 days; crops sprayed with pesticides must wait at least one week before they can be harvested for eating.

    Yuan Zhenyun also reminded that the symptoms of organophosphorus pesticide poisoning are mainly dizziness, headache, heavy sweating, fatigue, vomiting, tightness throughout the body, chest tightness, drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, incontinence of urine and feces, and even convulsions and coma. Some farmers mistakenly think it is heatstroke from the hot weather and that it will get better after a rest, and as a result delay treatment. Therefore, farmers should strengthen their awareness of protection, understand the relevant common knowledge about pesticide poisoning, and immediately send anyone with poisoning symptoms to hospital for examination and treatment.