Prevent liquid laundry packets children poisoning

LIQUID laundry pockets, which are now used by 20% of U.S. households and continue to gain popularity, present an emerging risk for children.

The packets are a concentrated, single-dose product designed to dissolve in water. They post significant health risks because when they come in contact with wet hands or mouths, they start to dissolve and might release the concentrated liquid inside. The effects to children, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, include loss of consciousness, difficulty in breathing, excessive vomiting, severe eye burns, and temporary vision loss.

Between 2012 and May 2015, poison centers have received more than 33,000 calls. Over 700 children aged 5 and below experienced serious effects caused by liquid laundry packets between 2012 and 2013, with children 1 and 2 year old being affected the most. 

Safe Kids Worldwide, Tide, and Gain are working together to help raise parents’ awareness about how to keep kids safe around liquid laundry packets. They offer simple tips to prevent poisoning: Keep liquid laundry packets out of children’s reach and sight. Keep packets in their original container and keep the container closed.

According to Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide, “Young children are explorers, and as they develop, often learn by touch and by putting things into their mouths. With the increasing popularity of liquid laundry packets, it’s especially important to make parents aware of the importance of keeping them out of the reach and hands of children.”

She noted that the solution to protect children in the home against potential poisoning is simple. “It’s making sure that families and caregivers know what to do to ensure a serious incident doesn’t happen in the home, and what to do if help is needed,” Ms. Carr further stated.