Consuming laundry detergent pods considered unsafe

By therapyservices1 on August 10, 2014 • ( 4 )

A recent report by Fox News, Laundry detergent pods exploding in childrens’ throats, describes several recent incidents in which children have consumed laundry detergent pods. One case details a 13-month girl in Minnesota who was hospitalized for a week after swallowing a blue detergent pod that she thought was a blueberry.

In order to circumvent future occurrences, laundry detergent companies have made several changes to their products and how they are sold in grocery stores:

Grocery stores will no longer sell laundry detergent pods directly next to fresh fruits, such as blueberries.
Laundry detergent pods will no longer be handed out as free samples with little tooth picks in them, as they might be confused for food.
Labeling for laundry detergent pods will no longer include the recommended serving size and nutritional facts based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Laundry detergent pods will not longer be available in various tasty flavors, such as blueberry, cherry, and fruity splash.

It is also recommended that parents follow these additional safety tips:

Laundry detergent pods should no longer be given to children as special treats or rewards for good behavior.
Including laundry detergent pods in your child’s sack lunch for school is now discouraged.
Although time-saving, parents are urged to no longer wash your children in washing machines (the delicate spin cycle in the dryer is still considered to be a safe and effective way to dry your children).
To help prevent children’s access to laundry detergent pods, it is recommended that parents keep them in a safe-deposit box at their bank.

Image attribution:
“KMBC.com“

Source attribution:
“Foxnews.com: Laundry detergent pods exploding in childrens’ throats” August 10, 2014.