A few seconds of inattention and the worst can happen. With young children, there are many sources of domestic accidents. Risk of drowning, falls or even injuries linked to the handling of unsuitable products by children… each year, the number of deaths of children under the age of 15 due to road accidents is estimated at more than 200. everyday life (AcVC). Among them, the risk of poisoning. Also, the General Directorate of Health and the General Directorate of Competition, Consumption and Fraud Prevention asked ANSES to define the main causes of accidental poisoning.
Results, over the period 2014-2020, analyzed by ANSES experts, cleaning and maintenance products represented a quarter of poisonings. Detergent and detergent pods alone covered 37% of serious cases.
Cleaning products, including laundry detergent, leading causes of serious poisoning in children
“Poisoning occur mainly in the first years of life when the child begins to get up, grab and put in the mouth products that he accesses alone and which are not intended for him”, explains Anses in its news. These can be serious, even very serious and life-threatening.
By analyzing data from Poison Control Centers or even visits to emergency rooms (OSCOUR network), in collaboration with Public Health France, the authors have listed the main causes of poisoning among young people over the period 2014-2020. They noticed that “Laundry detergents are the main causes of poisoning, particularly liquid detergent pods, despite a halving of these poisonings thanks to mandatory European measures taken from 2015”. The authors emphasize that these products “can cause serious health effects: respiratory distress in case of misdirection or serious corneal damage in case of ocular projection”.
Here is the list of the top 5 causes of poisoning in children under 15, according to ANSES:
- Cleaning, maintenance, stripping or descaling products;
- Medicines intended for humans;
- Cosmetics and hygiene products;
- Plants ;
- Parapharmacy products.
Accidental poisoning: how to reduce the risk within the home?
In its news, ANSES specifies that “These accidents being avoidable, it is essential to raise awareness among those around children of these risks and of good practices to prevent them.” To limit the risks of poisoning, ANSES therefore publishes its recommendations:
- put risky objects out of reach of the child,
- keep risky products in their packaging,
- store all medications out of reach of little ones,
- ensure the proper use of heating appliances with a risk of carbon monoxide emissions.
Sources:
- Accidental poisonings of children: which are the most frequent and the most serious? – Handles
- Vigil’Anses: bulletin April 2024