According to the Georgia Poison Center, poison control center hotlines across the country have seen a near 400% increase in calls related to children younger than 12 swallowing hand sanitizer. Parents need to know that ingesting even small amounts can cause alcohol poisoning, as the amount of alcohol in hand sanitizer ranges from 45-95 percent.
To appeal to children, hand sanitizer companies now make fun, fruity scents, like grape and orange. When these sanitizers are alcohol-based, the results can be highly dangerous.
When six-year-old Nhaijah Russell ingested a few squirts of strawberry-scented hand sanitizer at her school, she began to slur her words. She was rushed to the hospital, and by the time she arrived she could hardly walk. Nhaijah's blood-alcohol level was .179 — that's twice the legal limit.
Whether it's consumed recreationally or as a result of peer pressure, kids and teens are quickly learning that hand sanitizer can provide a quick and accessible buzz. Young children may be enticed simply because of its scent or color. Alcohol poisoning can cause incoordination, low blood sugar, rapid involuntary eye movement, mood and behavior changes. In severe cases, a child can stop breathing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a better solution to school-spread germs is to have students wash their hands with soap and water.
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