Overview
- A Pediatrics study released Thursday found about 240,800 emergency visits for U.S. children five and under from 2007 to 2022, with the rate rising from 4.6 to 6.3 per 10,000.
- Bleach was the top source at about 30% of cases, detergents followed at roughly 29%, and about one-third of all injuries involved single-use detergent packets known as pods.
- Injuries tied to detergent packets surged after the products entered the market in 2012, peaked in 2015, then declined as companies adopted opaque, child-resistant containers and bitter, slower-dissolving films.
- Spray bottles accounted for about 28% of cases and often caused eye injuries, including incidents where another person sprayed a child.
- Toddlers faced the highest risk and about 7% of cases led to hospitalization, prompting calls for safer designs, locked storage, and immediate use of the Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222) after any exposure.