According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, it has received about 1,230 reports of kids accidentally sustaining injury because of liquid laundry packets-a dramatic increase from the approximately 500 incidents involving kids and adult victims that it reported at the end of 2012. Meantime, the Poison Help Line says that the number of related reports is even higher at almost 17,500.
At Altman & Altman, LLP, please contact our Boston products liability lawyers if your son or daughter was injured because of a liquid laundry packet or any other type of product. Our Massachusetts child injury law firm handles claims and lawsuits against companies and other parties that may have been responsible in causing the harmful accident.
While efficient for doing laundry, single-load liquid laundry packets have proven to be highly toxic. One 7-month-old baby reportedly died from swallowing one of them. One of the reasons they are such an injury risk to kids is that they are small enough to insert in the mouth, soft and squishy to the touch, and tend to come in bright colors that attract the attention of young kids who might think the product is a toy or candy.
Unfortunately, because some of the chemicals in the packet, they can be toxic and very dangers. The CPSC says that kids have ended up in hospitals after ingesting a laundry packet. Side effects have included vomiting throat swelling, drowsiness, and breathing problems so severe that intubation was necessary. A raptured package can cause serious reactions, especially if the liquid gets into the eye. Temporary vision loss and other serious irritations may result.
On a positive note, a number of companies that make these products have agreed to certain changes:
• Starting the process of developing voluntary safety standards • Changing the packaging that the packets come in so kids cannot see the tiny products and mistake them for teething products, toys, or candy • Including warnings with the products that they should be kept away from kids • Exploring a less toxic formula to use in the packets
Even with these changes, you could still have grounds for a Boston product defects case if you or your child sustains serious injury from a detergent product.
On a positive note, a number of companies that make these products have agreed to certain changes involving liquid laundry packets, including:
• Starting the process of developing voluntary safety standards • Changing the packaging that the packets come in so kids cannot see the tiny products and mistake them for teething products, toys, or candy • Including warnings that the products should be kept away from kids • Exploring a less toxic formula to use in the packets
Regardless, even with these changes, you could still have grounds for a Boston product defects caes if you or your child sustains serious injury from a deterget product.
Liquid Laundry Packets: An Update, CPSC, March 27, 2014
Laundry Detergent Packets, Poison Help Line
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