Child Safety and Convenience: The Laundry Pod Dilemma

Child Safety and Convenience: The Laundry Pod Dilemma

laundry podsConsumer Reports recently pulled their previous endorsement for laundry detergent pods in light of the potential poisoning hazard for young children. Just to be clear, this is only the laundry pods that contain the highly concentrated liquid detergent, not pods containing powdered detergent. Although these laundry pods are quickly accessed, pre-measured, use less packaging, and are just simple to use, they ultimately are not worth the lives of children. Ariana Eunjung Cha of The Washington Post recently highlighted this excerpt from Consumer Reports:

‘When curious kids find their way into regular liquid laundry detergent, the result is often nothing worse than an upset stomach. Laundry detergent pods are presenting more serious symptoms. Along with vomiting, lethargy, and delirium, some victims have stopped breathing.’

Additionally, two children have died from ingesting a concentrated laundry detergent from a pod. Cha also noted “Last year, 11,714 reports of incidents involving kids aged 5 and younger and laundry detergent pods were reported to poison control centers nationwide. In the first six months of this year, there were more than 6,000.” This is a truly alarming fact that the numbers continue to rise. The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles posted this list on their blog:

                Helpful Tips for Safety at Home

Tip 1: Cleaning materials should always be stored out of the reach of children and pets.

Tip 2: Install child-proof latches on under-sink cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom. Even if cleaning materials are no longer stored there, chemical smells may linger and could be dangerous to a child if they play under sinks.

Tip 3: Store laundry products on high shelves because many detergents can cause rashes or itching on a child’s sensitive skin.

Tip 4: Never leave a bottle or container of cleaning supplies open and unattended. Always close and put away the cleaning supplies if you are interrupted. You do not want any temptation sitting around that may harm your child.

Tip 5: When cleaning, take only the proper amount you need from the container, seal the container back up, and store the container away immediately. Use the proper equipment for handling the cleaning supply material, as recommended on the label. If the label says “Wear protective gear, gloves, or goggles,” do so to reduce harm to yourself and family.

Tip 6: When you are done cleaning, properly dispose of paper towels and rags that have come in contact with the cleaning chemicals.

Tip 7: Keep a list of emergency telephone numbers. Many cleaning products and chemicals have instructions on what to do if the product is used incorrectly, resulting in an emergency. Create and keep a first-aid kit that includes emergency-wash liquids. In the first-aid kid, keep a list of telephone numbers for:

  • National Poison Control, 1-800-222-1222
  • The nearest hospital
  • A local ambulance service
  • Your family doctor

The American Cleaning Institute urges consumers to “Pledge Now to be the KEY to a safe laundry room and routine!”  Click here to take the pledge and for helpful tips for keeping your family safe.

Remember, treat all household cleaning items with care and always err on the side of caution. Look at the product you are purchasing and be aware of potential dangers. Review the warning labels and store in secured areas per label instructions. Always keep in mind: manufacturers use a product label to draw our attention to their product and this, however unintended, applies to children as well! Be diligent in keeping children safe. Personal convenience will never be more important than the life of a child.

 

Water Smarts To Keep Kids Safe

Water Smarts To Keep Kids Safe

Photo Credit: Vicki Vargason

Photo Credit: Vicki Vargason

On June 20, 2015, a two-year-old boy in Bay County, Florida, drowned in his family’s above-ground pool after being able to get out of the house undetected. Drowning is a very real risk for young children, especially in Florida. Drowning is quick and silent. A child can drown in less than one minute in one inch of water. This year, there have been 39 drowning fatalities in Florida. Of those, 69% (24) have been children under three years of age.

In Florida, we love our beaches, pools, lakes, rivers, and creeks. How can we enjoy Florida’s beautiful water and still protect the ones we love? The answer is simple – but not necessarily easy. Injury prevention experts in Florida agree that the key to water safety is establishing layers of protection. There are three primary layers: Supervision, Barriers, and Emergency Protection.

First, establish a method of supervision and always have a responsible adult watching children who are near water. Even at a party where there are lots of adults available nearby, one should always be assigned as the “water watcher” to keep an eye on the kids.

Second, set up barriers that physically block children from entry to an unsupervised pool or body of water. Effective barriers include the following:

  • Pool safety fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates
  • Door, window, and pool alarms
  • Childproof locks
  • Professional pool cover or net (Note: Homemade pool covers may fail and actually trap children in water)
  • Locking pet doors

Of course, YOU are always the most important layer of protection, but secondary barrier methods can literally save a life. The cost for setting up barriers can range from $20 to over $1,000. Experts advise that you purchase and use the most protection that you can afford.

The third layer is emergency preparedness. There is a small, precious window for resuscitating a child who is drowning – but only if someone knows what to do. It is a good idea for all adults, not just parents, to become CPR-certified in case of a water emergency. A phone should always be kept handy to call 911 in case something happens.

A 2007-2009 campaign called “Keep Your Eyes on the Kids” reduced the number of children ages one to four who drowned by 15% and the overall drowning rate by 18%. By taking a few important steps, we can do a lot to protect the little ones we love.

References: http://dcf.state.fl.us, http://drowningpreventionfoundation.com, http://nova.edu/ichp/drowning/, http://floridahealth.gov, http://waterproofFL.com, http://flsafepools.com