A Recent Tide Laundry Pod Lawsuit Filed By Wright And Schulte Reveals Laundry Pods Are Not Just Dangerous For Children After Elderly Man Dies After Ingesting A Poisonous Laundry Pod
Wright And Schulte Recently Filed A Tide Laundry Detergent Pod Lawsuit Against The Makers Of The Popular Brand Of Laundry Detergent Pods Alleging An Elderly Man With Dementia Died After Ingesting A Tide Pod And The Packaging Of These Pods Is To Blame. This Is The First Lawsuit Filed Against Makers Of Laundry Pods That Involves An Elderly Adult. Other Laundry Detergent Lawsuits Have Accused The Packaging Of These Laundry Pods Have Caused Severe Injuries, Poisoning, And Even Death In Young Children After They Have Ingested The Poisonous Pods.
A Study Published By The American Academy Of Pediatrics In November 2014 Examined The Dangers Of These Pods. The Study Gathered Data From The National Poison Data System From 2012 And 2013 Based On The Reports Of Poisoning And Injuries Occurring Due To Laundry Pods. The Study Authors Found That 17,230 Children Reported Ingesting The Pods. These Ingestions Led To Over 750 Hospitalizations And One Or More Deaths.
“Because Children May Be Enticed By The Colorful, Candy-Like Appearance Of Detergent Pods, The Study Authors Conclude That A National Safety Standard Is Needed To Improve Product Packaging And Labeling,” The AAP Stated In A News Release About The Study.
These Statistics Become Even More Alarming Given The Short Time The Pods Have Been On The Market. Single-Use Laundry Packages Have Only Been On The Market Since 2012. Since Their Original Conception, The American Association Of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) Has Warned Parents And Caregivers To Use Extreme Caution When Storing The Items To Prevent Children From Ingesting The Detergent.
In Addition To Causing Poisoning Damage, The AAPCC States That The Pods Can Also Cause Serious Eye And Breathing Problems. The High-Dose Concentration Of Single-Use Laundry Pods Could Be Behind The Increased Danger Risk. Bright, Colorful Packaging Also Appeals To Curious Children.
“Poison Centers Receive Many Calls Each Year About Children Getting Into Laundry Detergent,” The AAPCC Stated In A Public Health Alert In 2014. “Swallowing It Often Causes Mild Stomach Upset, If There Are Any Symptoms At All, But Poison Center Experts Say The New Highly Concentrated Single-Load Liquid Laundry Detergent Packets Seem To Be Different.”
In 2014, Over 9,9035 Children Were Exposed To Dangerous Doses From Laundry Packets, The AAPCC Told Associations Now.
Since The Original Release Of The Packets, Several Manufacturers Have Made The Pod External Packaging Harder To Open, But This Does Not Help Children Who Get Into Opened Packages. Many Health Organizations Claim That These Efforts Are Not Enough To Keep Children Safe- And The Recent Data Seems To Agree With Their Assessment.
According To The American Cleaning Institute, Manufacturers Can Make Their Products Safer By Following Their New Suggested Packaging Guidelines. “The Guidance Provides Best Practices For The Household Laundry Products Industry In The Labeling And Design Of Packaging For Liquid Laundry Packets,” ACI Told Associations Now.
Sadly, These Efforts Still May Not Be Enough To Keep Children And Adults Safe.