Laundry detergent packets
Learn how laundry detergent packets can be dangerous to children. Also find information on how to safely store these packets.
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Health risks of laundry detergent packets
Because laundry detergent packets are small and often brightly coloured, children can mistake them for food or toys. This can lead to a child swallowing the laundry detergent packet, which can cause:
- nausea and vomiting
- coughing and choking
- breathing troubles
- stomach pain
A laundry detergent packet can also burst in a child's hand with only a small amount of pressure. The packet's membrane can dissolve quickly with moisture. Contact with the contents of a laundry detergent packet can cause:
- rashes
- skin irritation
- eye irritation
Similar products, like dishwasher detergent packets, could pose the same risks.
Keep your children safe from laundry detergent packets
You can help prevent a serious injury involving laundry detergent packets by:
- keeping them locked out of sight and reach of children
- reading the label and following instructions before use
- using them with dry hands
What to do if your child has come in contact with laundry detergent packets
If you think your child has been harmed by contact with a laundry detergent packet, immediately call:
- 911
- a Poison Control Centre
You can find phone numbers for the Poison Control Centre nearest you:
- at the front of your local telephone book
- by searching the Internet for a Poison Control Centre byprovince or territory