Poisoning From Laundry Pods Continues Despite Industry Adjustments to Packaging
We all lead hectic lives and appreciate a little convenience whenever possible, especially when it comes to doing household chores like laundry. But what price would you put on a little convenience?
Convenience at a Price
One way the laundry detergent suppliers are trying to simply the task of doing the laundry is by introducing detergent pods, which are becoming increasingly popular. However, due to their brightly colored packaging, they can look an awful lot like candy. This dangerous similarity has put the number of laundry pod poisoning deaths on the rise.
According to AAPCC, 3,734 children under the age of five were poisoned by highly-concentrated laundry detergent pods between January 1, 2015 and April 30, 2015. And this statistic doesn’t include the number of adults with dementia who are poisoned due to mistaking these pods for candy.
Changes to Laundry Pod Packaging
In the past, the detergent pod packaging was transparent in an effort to accentuate the bright colors, which helps make the product more marketable. However, the bright colors were in part what led to children, and adults with dementia, to mistake the pods for candy. Laundry pod packaging is now produced in a way that makes it look less like candy. Additionally, some manufacturers have even gone as far as to include a double-latch lid on the actual laundry pod packaging in an effort to make it more difficult to open. Unfortunately, laundry pod poisoning statistics are still on the rise, even after changes to the packaging have been made.
What’s Next?
That leads us to question – what’s next? Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and Republican Jackie Speier of California have introduced legislation in both the House and Senate. This piece of legislation is called the Detergent Poisoning and Child Safety Act, but unfortunately the chances of this legislation passing are slim. Therefore, it’s up to the parents and caretakers, in a combined effort with the laundry detergent manufacturers, to ensure all possible safety measures are being taken. It only takes a split second for a curious toddler to grab a pod that has fallen onto the floor and put it into his mouth.
Prevention and awareness are paramount in keeping your loved ones safe and out of danger. Sometimes even the most vigilant efforts on behalf of consumers isn’t enough. That’s when it’s time to seek out legal assistance.
If you are in need of a personal injury lawyer in Atlanta, or any of the surrounding areas, please contact Harris Lowry Manton LLP for a consultation. Harris Lowry Manton is well known for winning significant verdicts and settlements in even the most complex cases, and we can help you too!
Image courtesy of: Creative Commons / CPSC
Call 911 and contact your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately if you suspect a child or loved one has ingested a laundry pod.
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