We all know not to leave matches (used in the OLD days!), lighters and ashtrays within the reach of children – but what about electronic cigarettes (e-cigs)? It may seem common sense to make sure an e-cig is out of a child’s reach but do we leave it lying around on a shelf, in our bag or on a table as it doesn’t seem ‘that unsafe’ as it isn’t burning?
Other than knowing e-cigs aren’t for kids, I hadn’t really thought about the safety aspect until Stephen and I discussed a leaflet that he received in Brussels earlier this month. The leaflet was produced by Belgian Poison Centre and I quote from their leaflet (see snapshot below under ‘Flash prevention’) “The electronic cigarette is a relatively new product on the market. The main risks appear acute poisoning with refill liquids. Given the presence of nicotine in some models, the electronic cigarette is far from a trivial product. In children, ingesting a small amount of liquid can cause severe poisoning.” The Belgian Poison Centre cover all forms of poisoning and in their e-cig section it states that a “10mg dose of nicotine in a child can cause severe poisoning” and lists some of the symptoms to watch out for:
nausea
vomiting
paleness
dizziness
headache
palpitations
seizures
heart rhythm disorders and respiratory problems
If our child was ill would we even consider that they may have been messing around with an e-cig and that it may be the cause?
“Upon reading this advice warning from Belgium, I am appalled that some of these Electronic Cigarettes are so toxic and dangerous, particularly to children whilst readily available on the UK market. If a child innocently inhaled the contents without the parents knowledge and fell ill, what are the odds that any medical professional would suspect and diagnose poisoning from this source? I have yet to witness any public warnings within the UK aimed towards parents making them aware of these dangers!” – Stephen Hadley
Pet Safety
Another thing to consider is our pets. Since sharing this post, we have also received messages about how pet owners need to be careful with their e-cigs (including disposal) as some pets have become ill after chewing on them!
