Kids Are Getting Drunk Using Hand Sanitizer

Six-year-old Nhaijah Russell swallowed three or four squirts of seemingly innocuous liquid hand sanitizer at school. It tasted good, she said, like strawberry. It also contained enough alcohol to make her dangerously drunk. She arrived at the emergency room slurring her words and unable to walk. Many poison control center hotlines across the US has seen a nearly 500% increase in calls related to children younger than 12 ingesting hand sanitizer, according to new analysis by the Georgia Poison Center, which has been going on for awhile. 

Across many various cosmetic and personal care product brands are the leading cause for poison exposures in children younger than 6. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers household cleaning products are the second-leading cause of poison exposures in children younger than 6. 

According to the National Capital Poison Center, laundry detergent and and other laundry items also cause serious injury or even death. 

Painkillers – Painkillers such as acetaminophen account for 10% of poison exposures in children younger than 6 and 7% of poison exposures in children ages 6 to 12 years, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

Vitamins and supplements – Some vitamins, such as adult iron supplements, look like candy to children. The amount of iron in an adult tablet can be a toxic dose to a small child, according to the National Capital Poison Center.

Bug- and weedkillers – Insecticides and weedkillers contain chemicals that are dangerous if ingested. Glyphosate, a chemical in weedkillers, can cause vomiting, breathing difficulties and even death.

Liquid nicotine – Cigarettes aren't the only smoking-related product that needs to be kept out of reach of kids. Liquid nicotine used to refill e-cigarettes can make a child sick if it is ingested or spilled on skin, according to the Georgia Poison Center.

Hydrocarbons – Hydrocarbons, such as lighter fluids, can get into a child's lungs when ingested. They can cause coughing, choking, fever, pneumonia and death, according to the National Capitol Poison Center.

But kids are not getting into these products more frequently and some are unfortunately going to the emergency room. 

Hand sanitizer ranges in 45-95% alcohol. Ingesting even small amounts can cause alcohol poisoning. 

Alcohol poisoning can cause confusion, vomiting and drowsiness. In severe cases, a child can stop breathing.

3,266 hand sanitizer cases related to young children were reported to poison control centers in 2010. In 2014, the number increased to 16,117 cases.