A recent report from CNN states that a common household item, hand sanitizer, is being ingested by children more frequently. According to an analysis by the Georgia Poison Center, poison control centers across the U.S. have seen a nearly 400 percent increase in calls related to children under 12 ingesting hand sanitizer since 2010. The calls increased from 3,266 in 2010 to 16,117 in 2014. Dr. Gaylord Lopez, the center’s director, told CNN, “Kids are getting into these products more frequently, and unfortunately, there’s a percentage of them going to the emergency room.” The article notes that the amount of alcohol in hand sanitizer ranges from 45 percent to 95 percent, while in contrast, beer contains about 5 percent alcohol and wine contains about 12 percent alcohol. As little as two or three squirts of hand sanitizer can cause alcohol poisoning in some cases, which can lead to confusion, vomiting and drowsiness. A child with a severe case of alcohol poisoning might stop breathing.
Lopez said in a recent letter to Georgia’s school systems that children ingest hand sanitizer for a variety of reasons, which may include trying to get drunk, doing it on a dare, or drinking it because it looks like it would taste good. He noted, “A kid is not thinking this is bad for them. A lot of the more attractive (hand sanitizers) are the ones that are scented. There are strawberry, grape, orange-flavored hand sanitizers that are very appealing to kids.” Lopez advises teachers and parents to keep hand sanitizer in a place where children cannot reach it and to monitor its use, and suggests using alcohol free products or sanitizing wipes as an alternative.
If you think your child has ingested hand sanitizer, call the Banner Good Samaritan Poison Help Line at
1-800-222-1222. Visit DrugFreeAZKids.org for great tips on how to start preventative conversations with your child of any age about alcohol and other drugs.
