Laundry Pod Safety

Laundry pods, those colorful, pre-measured and concentrated laundry detergent packets that have made doing laundry easier, have been popular since they hit the market in 2010. Unfortunately, this time-saver has also been a danger to young children, with poison control centers receiving thousands of calls for children being exposed to the contents of laundry pods every year. 

Poisoning from household chemicals is nothing new, and all chemicals around the home have the potential to sicken a child. However, laundry pods are a bigger danger than most other detergent products because they have the ability to cause more damage.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are the reasons laundry pods are considered more dangerous:

• Laundry pods are brightly colored, resembling candy, making them attractive to children;
• They are child-sized, fitting easily into the palm of a toddler;
• Their jelly-like feel makes them fun to handle;
• The surface coating of laundry pods dissolves easily with the presence of moisture or even a slight pressure-if a child licks the pod, it begins to break down, if they squeeze it, it can squirt into their eyes, mouth, or be aspirated into their lungs;
• Laundry pods are highly concentrated and contain more toxic chemicals.

The CDC has reported that many symptoms of laundry pod poisoning are quite significant and much greater than they symptoms of exposure of non-laundry pod detergents. These can include:

• Vomiting
• Changes in mental status-A child may be lethargic, confused, and difficult to awaken.
• Eye damage
• Trouble breathing-Chemicals in laundry pods cause the throat to swell and often require medication, breathing tubes, or surgical procedures to open airways.
• Ulcers and burns to the gastrointestinal tract

Even if there are no signs of burns or damage, if you suspect that your child has been exposed to the chemicals in a laundry pod they should be seen by a physician or emergency room immediately. Damage may be unseen to the naked eye and any delay in treatment can be disastrous for your child. 

Parents, guardians, and childcare providers should take great care to keep all household chemicals away from their children, especially laundry pods. If your child is under five (5) years old, consider using an alternative laundry detergent and if you do use laundry pods, only use products that come in a double locking, childproof package that is stored out of the reach of all children. 

With over 400 children hospitalized yearly because of laundry pod accidents, prevention is key to keeping your child safe. 

If your child has been injured in an accident, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice. 

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Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 900 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 120 five-star reviews on Google.  Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at michael@agrusslawfirm.com, or schedule meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.