14/01/2010

Chilling risks of winter automotive products such as anti-freeze and windscreen wash

Category: Current News-en_US

Posted by: Cameron

The Child Accident Prevention Trust and Macfarlan Smith, discoverers of bittering agent Bitrex, are joining forces to draw parents' attention to the dangers posed by anti-freeze, windscreen wash and other potentially toxic de-frosting products if swallowed by children.

Many of these products contain methanol and ethylene glycol which can cause serious medical complications if they are swallowed.

In 2008/09 the National Poisons Information Service, commissioned by the Health Protection Agency, received 512 calls to their helpline about products involving methanol and ethylene glycol, 101 of these involved children. They were the second highest reason for calls to the Agency. Most involved accidental ingestion.

The consequences of ingesting methanol and glycol can be serious; they include kidney failure, respiratory failure, coma and even death.

Pam Prentice, Campaigns Manager, the Child Accident Prevention Trust said:.
"Protecting your family from the hazards of winter automotive products involves simple steps. If you keep all hazardous products locked safely away, never put the products in unmarked bottles and containers, buy products in child resistant containers and look out for products which contain a bittering agent, then you can protect your child from this risk."

Cameron Smith of Macfarlan Smith discoverers of Bitrex said,
‘Methanol and glycol are very toxic substances. Prevention is always better than treatment. Visiting A&E after a child swallows substances like this can be a traumatic experience for the child and their families.

‘In France and the USA, the issue is taken very seriously indeed. There, laws state that all glycol based anti-freeze must contain a bittering agent like Bitrex®. Bittering agents help to ensure that the products won't be swallowed as the bitter taste encourages children to spit them out. They are not the complete answer to accidental poisonings, careful storage and child resistant containers are vital too, but they are a last line of defense guarding against that moment of inattention or thoughtlessness.