Poisoning deaths among young kids highest in nearly 50 years: CPSC

Unintentional poisoning deaths involving kids younger than 5 climbed 66% from 2021 to 2022 amid a spike in incidents involving narcotics and hallucinogens, according to a new report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The CPSC recorded 98 deaths involving unintentional pediatric poisonings from consumer products in 2022, the highest since 105 fatalities were observed in 1976 – four years after the agency was founded.

The commission reported 59 deaths related to accidental poisoning by exposure to narcotics and hallucinogens – a 79% increase from 2021. An estimated 11,800 kids experienced poisonings related to ingesting acetaminophen, ibuprofen or narcotic medications.

“The recent rise in pediatric poisonings is heartbreaking,” CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric said. “Keeping drugs as well as cleaning supplies, laundry packets and button batteries safely out of reach is vital to protecting children.”

Agency tips to help prevent poisonings:

• Keep drugs and medications in their original child-resistant containers, and store them in a locked cabinet or box and out of reach of kids.
• Properly dispose of unfinished or unused drugs and medicines.
• Don’t let children play with laundry detergent packets.
• Keep battery-powered products away from kids if the battery compartment doesn’t have a screw closure or if the compartment is damaged.
• Check the toys in your home to make sure the battery compartments are secured.
• Don’t allow kids to play with or be in contact with button cell or coin batteries.