Household cleaning products remain a leading source of injury for young children, with researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital documenting more than an estimated 240,800 emergency department visits associated with these injuries from 2007 through 2022 for children aged five years and younger—averaging one injury every 35 minutes.
A study published in Pediatrics analyzed 16 years of data and found that bleach and detergents were the most common product types causing injuries. Single-use laundry and dish detergent packets, introduced in 2012, became a primary hazard, accounting for 33% of injuries. The rate of injuries from packets increased rapidly after 2012, peaked in 2015, and then declined through 2022, likely due to implementation of safety measures including child-resistant containers, opaque packaging, and delayed-dissolving bitter-tasting films.
Children aged 1-2 years faced the highest risk, according to the research, due to developmental factors. Young children explore their world by putting things in their mouths but cannot read labels or recognize danger. Spray bottles remained an important source of injury, accounting for 28% of all injuries, with most spray bottle injuries affecting the eyes and often resulting in chemical burns, poisoning, dermatitis, or conjunctivitis. Nearly one-quarter of spray bottle injuries occurred when another person sprayed the child.
The most common way children were injured overall was through ingestion, with poisoning as the most common diagnosis. The hospitalization rate was 7%, increased from 5.5% in a previous study. Researchers recommended that parents store cleaning products in locked cabinets, keep products in original containers, and save the national Poison Help Line number (1-800-222-1222) in their phones.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.newswise.com/articles/study-finds-household-cleaning-products-remain-a-leading-source-of-child-injury/?sc=rsmn