Tobacco and cigarette smoking in the United States have been on the decline for many years. However, along with the descend grows a new trend, electronic cigarettes.
According to the CDC, in 2018, 8.3 million adults were using e-cigs and as of last year, over 2 million U.S. middle and high school students were using them as well. Nicotine can be an addictive and harmful substance when smoked but it can be much more deadly and dangerous in the hands of a child or toddler.
March 20-26, 2022, is National Poison Prevention Week, an opportunity to highlight the dangers of poisonings for people of all ages and promote community involvement in poisoning prevention in the United States.
Electronic cigarette (e-cigs) can come in many different shapes and sizes, but each device contains the same components. E-cigarettes create an aerosol by using a battery to heat up liquid that contains nicotine or other substances. The liquid nicotine most often comes in a small pod or cartilage small enough to be a serious choking hazard for children. The nicotine can be mixed with many different flavors and smells, making them even more appealing to small children that may pick them up or be curious about them.
“Liquid nicotine products are very poisonous if swallowed. Young children are naturally curious and have the tendency to pick up things and put them in their months. This creates a greater chance of choking and even accidently poisoning. It’s important to be alert to any items in a child’s reach whether it be in the garbage, on the floor, in a cabinet, any place accessible that a child could get their hands on something potential harmful,” says Aspirus Pediatrician Dr. Amy Falk.
Turning away for a few seconds can allow children to quickly get into things that could harm them, such as nicotine from an e-cigarette. Here are some tips from Poison Prevention Control to create a safe environment for any child.
- Always keep children away from ANY product that contains nicotine.
- Avoid keeping any products containing liquid nicotine in a household with children or where children are frequently present
- Always store the product in its original container
- Lock products and parts safely out of sight and reach of children and pets
- The “pods” or small pouches of nicotine should be discarded so that kids and pets can’t dig them out of the trash.
If not disposed of properly or correctly stored, e-cigarette can be a dangerous chemical for children to ingest and choke on. Aspirus Health recommends that parents and caregivers save the poison help number in phones and post it visibly in the home: 1.800.222.1222. Specialists at poison control centers provide free, confidential, expert medical advice 24 hours a day. They help with poison emergencies and can also answer questions about medicine safety.
For more information about medicine safety and poisoning prevention visit Poisoning Prevention and Substance Misuse at Aspirus Health Care