Children in Comas From Drinking Hand Sanitizer
70,000 children under the age of 12 were poisoned by hand sanitizer according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2011 to 2014. These facts have come to light in an alarming new study by the CDC. According to the study 55 poison treatment centers saw children admitted for symptoms including acidosis, vomiting, apnea, and in some cases caused coma.
Here’s the problem with hand sanitizers where ingestion is concerned. Hand Sanitizer usually contains anywhere from 60%-95% isopropyl alcohol or ethanol by volume. Then you ad enticing scents that make the substance more like a treat confusing children in homes where parents are lax in safety.
Apparently some of the older underage kids are drinking the hand sanitizer to “catch a buzz” while the largest group affected, which is mostly under 5 years old, are attracted to it because of those scents that are infused making the substance enticing to the youngsters. That coupled with a strange lack of concern by parents who don’t seem to consider hand sanitizer to be a safety issue despite it being a very serious one.
What can you do? What the hell do you mean “what can you do?” Lock your damn stuff up and watch your friggin’ kids once in a while. There the things making noise past your phone’s screen. Keep an eye on them once in a while and I don’t know, have a talk about poisoning and what’s good for you, what’s not. Maybe have a serious intelligent discussion with your kid about alcohol before other people do. You know like a parent would.
