Sweet Spills

Meghan waited a little impatiently as her father backed the car out of the garage. She was going to be late for dance class. But as she climbed into the car, she saw a small puddle on the garage floor. Meghan knew that could spell trouble. Dance class could wait. If that puddle was antifreeze that had leaked from the car, it could be deadly to her cat.

Meghan knows that antifreeze is good for your car's engine−but not for pets! The main ingredient in antifreeze−ethylene glycol−smells good and tastes sweet. That can be a deadly combination. The chemical is highly poisonous. Many animals are accidentally poisoned every year due to antifreeze spills and leaks.

Buy Safe, Be Safe
Luckily, there is a way to protect animals. Ask your parents to buy antifreeze that contains propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol. It is less toxic and ha a bitter taste that doesn't interest pets. And follow these tips:

• Keep antifreeze away from animals. If you see a spill or leak, tell your parents so they can clean it up.
   

• Keep pets indoors when they can't be supervised outside.
   

• Keep pets away from driveways, roads, and garages where antifreeze spills may occur.
   

• If your pet is exposed to antifreeze, act quickly. Get him to a veterinarian right away so he can be treated.

State governments are working on preventing antifreeze poisoning in animals and people. So far, five states have passed laws that require a bittering agent be added to antifreeze, called denatonium benzoate. Eleven-year-old Haley Ham is fighting to get a similar bill passed in Tennessee. Read her story here.

How You Can Help
Find out who represents you in your state. Click here to find out. You will be asked to fill in your zip code to find your representatives. Click on the "State" tab. This will give you the contact information. Write and ask them to create a bill that would require denatonium benzoate to be added to antifreeze.

If you live in Ohio, you can take action now! Write to your state legislators and urge them to pass OH H.B. 38 which would require denatonium benzoate to be added to antifreeze.