Spray Cleaners: Major Danger for Toddlers
A report by the Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Center for Injury Research and Policy has shown that the most common poisoning injury for children under six is still spray cleaners, though exposure has been slashed in half over the last decade.
Despite the decrease in cases since 1990, 12,000 children are still treated in emergency rooms annually for accidental consumption of household cleaners, most commonly located in spray bottles.
Because they are so easy to use, spray cleaners are the most popular on the market. While they come with lockable caps, they are easy to open for most toddlers and young children, and because of the similarity to sports drinks in appearance, they are dangerous temptations.
Almost all cases (72%) are for very young children between the ages of 1 and 3, who are able to reach products left out, and less likely to understand what they are.
It was also mentioned that abrasive powder cleaners can look similar to Parmesan cheese, and also attribute to a certain amount of poisonings each year.
Several tips have been given by the American Academy of Pediatrics to help avoid accidental consumption. They suggest parents keep all products in their original bottles, lock them in a cabinet that cannot be opened by children, keep them high, and dispose of all leftover products.
You should also take a moment to make sure all bottles are closed and caps locked properly before putting them away. This includes anything outside of the house like weed killers, or anything kept in the garage of yard shed.
Filed Under: Kids And Parenting
