To combat instances of e-liquid exposure and accidental ingestions among children, the FDA is offering tips for best storage and safety practices for those that regularly use and handle these products, according to a recent press release.
How to prevent children from accidental e-liquid exposures | Image Credit: © neillockhart - © neillockhart - stock.adobe.com.
Liquids containing nicotine in electronic cigarettes or “vapes” could result in injury or death if a child gets ahold of them and ingests them, prompting the FDA to release tips to prevent these instances.1
Coma, respiratory arrest, seizure, and death can occur in children who drink e-liquids. Exposure can also take place through skin contact, according to the FDA. The agency stated in a press release that there were 7043 reports of e-cigarette or e-liquid exposures in children from April 2022 to March 2023. Of those, approximately 88% of happened in children younger than 5 years.1
Health care professions can inform parents who vape of the following tips and remind them to properly store e-liquids (safe, elevated location, out of the view of children) of any kind, and after every use.1
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released information from a study stating monthly e-cigarette unit sales increased by 46.6% from January of 2020 (15.5 million units) to December of 2022 (22.7 million units).2
With an increased prevalence of e-cigarettes, parents should save the Poison Control HELP telephone number (1-800-222-1222) and be prepared to contact Poison Control if an accidental ingestion occurs.1
To help limit children’s exposure to e-liquids, proper handling should be a staple. Here are FDA-recommended tips for proper e-liquid storage:1
References:
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