Chemical safety at home and what you should know.
Are you aware of the need for Chemical Safety At Home?
Do you know how you and your family can be harmed by using chemicals?
Do you know what chemicals you are using? Have you read the label?
Be Careful! According to a report by the Poison Centres in several EU countries, there have been a significant number of incidents of ingestion and eye damage involving infants and young children involving liquid detergent capsules.
Liquid consumer laundry capsules contain concentrated liquid detergent for single use within a soluble package which breaks down upon contact with water during a wash cycle to release the detergent product.
Such liquid laundry detergent products are small and colourful which makes them attractive to young children who may be tempted to put them in their mouth or play with them.
When moist, these products can burst in a child’s hand, potentially irritating the eyes and skin. They can also dissolve quickly and may burst in a child’s mouth in a very short period of time (within seconds) causing the contents to escape quickly and if swallowed can cause severe injuries such as breathing difficulties requiring intubation.
The main symptoms and consequences of exposure can be:
- If ingested: severe vomiting, coughing, respiratory disorders, nausea, drowsiness and rash.
- In case of contact with the eyes: conjunctivitis, eye pain, eye irritation.
- In case of contact with the skin: skin rash, skin irritation, chemical burn.
These are all very severe painful symptoms.
Prevent an accident and make sure that:
- all detergent products are stored safely out of the reach and sight of children at all times.
- capsules are kept in their original container and fully closed when not in use.
- capsules must never be left outside their original containers.
- Read the label.
Online Chemical Safety Awareness Training from elearnsafety.ie