Georgia Pest Control Practice Test

What should you do first if you suspect pesticide contamination on your hands?

1. Rub them together

2. Wash with soap and water

3. Dry them on a cloth

4. Ignore it

The correct answer is: Wash with soap and water

When suspecting pesticide contamination on your hands, the most important initial action is to wash them thoroughly with soap and water. Pesticides can be harmful, and immediate cleaning helps to minimize the risk of absorption through the skin or accidental transfer to other surfaces or areas, such as your face or food. Soap is particularly effective because it helps to break down the chemical structure of many pesticides, ensuring they are effectively removed from the skin. Rubbing the hands together might redistribute the contaminants rather than removing them, making the situation worse. Similarly, drying hands on a cloth could transfer the contaminants to that cloth and onto other surfaces, creating further exposure risks. Ignoring the contamination altogether would leave the pesticides on your skin, significantly increasing the risk of adverse health effects. Therefore, washing hands with soap and water is the most critical first step to ensure safety and reduce exposure to potentially dangerous substances.