Safe Kids to parents: Laundry detergent pods continue to injure children

Washington – Liquid laundry detergent packets are an “emerging risk for children,” according to Safe Kids Worldwide, and the organization is calling on parents to keep their kids safe from the products.

When children touch the packets with their mouths or wet hands, the products can release concentrated toxic liquid. Exposure can result in serious health effects, including breathing issues, vomiting, severe eye burns, loss of consciousness and short-term vision loss, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

More than 700 kids 5 and younger had “serious effects” from the packets between 2012 and 2013, equal to one child a day, Safe Kids states. Children at the most significant risk are 1- and 2-year-olds.

Safe Kids offers the following tips to protect children:

• Keep the packets away and out of sight from children.
• Store packets in their original container and keep it closed.
• If a child is exposed to a packet, immediately call Poison Control at (800) 222-1222.