Eye Injuries On the Rise In Young Children Caused By This Common Household Object

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Eye Injuries On the Rise In Young Children Caused By This Common Household Object

If you have young children in the house, you might want to take extra caution when storing and handling laundry pods.

Although they're a genius invention, they've been making headlines in the news lately for another reason. Earlier last year, it was reported that young children were being rushed to emergency rooms after eating laundry pods.

A new study brings more bad news about kids and these handy packets.

Since 2012, the instances of eye injuries in toddlers (3 and 4 years old) caused by pods has increased from 12 to 480 by 2015. Reports say that these injuries happen when the liquid squirts into one or both eyes after a child opens the pod, or when the soaps leak onto their hands and they rub their eyes.

Thankfully, new standards were put in place that should reduce these instances from happening. By the end of 2016, over 99 percent of the volume of liquid laundry packets were in compliance with international materials and packaging standards (ASTM).

Changes included a bitter, soluble film (to prevent children from snacking on them) and stronger packaging that can withstand the squeeze pressure of a child's hand.

Still, parents are advised to take precautions. Keep all laundry pods out of the reach of little hands and be sure to put them away after you have finished using them.

It might be a good idea to keep the national Poison Help Line number (1-800-222-1222) in your cell phone.

Do you use these pods? Pass it on!