WIREDGOV

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in Scotland is backing a move to reduce the number of Scottish children ending up in A&E after swallowing liquitabs.   

Families with babies across Greater Glasgow and Clyde will be receiving cupboard catches to keep household cleaning products out of the reach of inquisitive young fingers as part of the Not for play…keep them away campaign.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has launched the project after doctors in Yorkhill A&E at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children reported an increase in admissions due to youngsters ingesting liquitabs. Medics treated 18 children in 2010/11 but are now seeing an average of two cases every month.   

RoSPA, the UK’s leading accident prevention charity, is backing the campaign after raising concerns at the attractiveness of some of the liquitabs, which are used in washing machines and dishwashers but can be mistaken for jelly-like sweets by children. Along with ingesting the contents, RoSPA is also aware of children squeezing the liquid on to their face and suffering chemical burns to their eyes.   

Health visitors will hand out 16,000 cupboard catches to parents when their babies are between 12 and 16 weeks-old, along with leaflets on how to fit them to areas where cleaning products are kept, such as under the sink.   

Alkaline substances in liquitabs can cause an immediate chemical burn, leading to breathing problems as the airway starts to swell rapidly. Getting an affected child to hospital as quickly as possible is vital as they could die if the airway closes completely.   

Carlene McAvoy, community safety development officer for RoSPA Scotland, said: “This initiative shows that we all have a role to play in ensuring the safety of children, particularly in the home, where some of the most serious accidents happen.

“RoSPA has been made aware of cases involving young children who have been injured by ingesting liquitab detergents after mistaking them for sweets. It is hoped that this campaign, with the help of the free cupboard catches, will raise awareness among as many people as possible of the need to store chemical items, such as laundry detergents, in a secure cupboard, out of the reach of children.”   

Mother Juliet Turner, from Glasgow, is warning parents to take note of the campaign after her 15-month-old daughter Eva ended up in intensive care earlier this year after biting into a liquitab.   

Juliet Turner said: “Although the liquitabs were in a box which a click-lid, Eva still managed to get into it. She bit into a liquitab but was sick straight away. I didn’t want to take any chances as I had heard about how toxic liquitabs could be, so I took Eva to hospital where she was kept in intensive care overnight.   

“It was one of the most frightening experiences of my life, so I think these cupboard catches are a great idea. They look easy to fix on to cupboards, and anything that will help keep children safe is worth it.”   

Consultant Haytham Kubba, from Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children, said: “Most parents are unaware of the dangers of liquitabs, but to small children, the bright colourful gel-like cubes are definitely of interest, and they can be very dangerous.   

“The injuries from these products can be life-threatening, causing considerable distress to both the child and their family. Treatment often involves intubation (inserting a tube to help the child breathe), surgery, as well as a lengthy stay in hospital. Then there’s follow-up appointments and, in some cases, further surgery.   

“Hopefully this will raise awareness and save any more children or parents going through the trauma of being rushed to hospital and possibly having quite major treatment.”   

Aileen Campbell, Scottish Government Minister for Children and Young People, said: “As every parent knows, children love to explore. It is a constant challenge managing all of the safety risks in the family home, including access to household chemicals. Fitting a cupboard catch is a simple but very effective measure that can help keep inquisitive children safe.”   

Lesley Nish, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health improvement senior, said: “We are asking families to attach the cupboard catch to the cupboard where they store liquitabs and other cleaning products and to keep these products away from children.”   Visit the RoSPA website for more advice and information on liquitabs.