Since around 2012 when single load laundry detergent pods hit the mainstream market, two things have been found: these pods are very effective in cleaning the laundry, and very convenient. However, these single laundry pods pose a serious health hazard for young children.
THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 6,000 REPORTS THIS YEAR INVOLVING THE laundry PODS
Within the first months of this year, there have been over 6,000 reports of children 5 and under inhaling, ingesting, or getting pod contents on their skin or in their eyes. These figures are reported to surpass last years total of over 11,000. This was reported from the American Association of Poison Control Centers. There was also reports that out of over 10,000 of the pod related exposures, around 5,000 of them required medical attention. This was a part of the results of the data from 2013.
SMALL CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE BY MANUFACTURERS
As early as 2012, there have been requests for manufacturers to make pods safer. Manufacturers have listened and switched from clear to opaque plastic for the outer container, and adding child resistant locks on the containers to make it harder for children to get the pods. However, children still are getting into the packages. From the industry perspective, the efforts taken by manufacturers have paid off due to the pod’s increased market share that is currently around 12 percent.
PARENTS ARE advised TO NOT USE laundry pods WITH CHILDREN UNDER age 6 IN THE HOME
Reports have been made suggesting that households with children younger than six replace their laundry pods with other forms of laundry detergent. This, however, doesn’t include the dish detergent pods, that contain powder. Injuries involving those are less severe and less common.
Liquid laundry detergent has resulted in upset stomachs for children who get into them. However with the laundry detergent pods, the results are much more serious. There can be delirium, lethargy, vomiting and possible stopped breathing. Since 2013, two children have died after eating the laundry pods. There hasn’t been any medical explanation as to why the laundry detergent pods are more dangerous than the other types of detergent.
