What To Do If Your Child Has Been Drinking Pale?

However, if you’re just curious, read this article to learn about ways to prevent your child from drinking toxic cleaning products  and prepare yourself mentally so you know what to do if your child has been drinking bleach.

How are children poisoned by these products?

Consumption of toxic products such as bleach and other cleaning agents has serious consequences. These effects can also occur from inhaling these toxic fumes or from direct contact with the skin. 

Emergency services are a must if your child has been poisoned by one of these poisons. Bleach, cleaning products, cosmetics and certain personal hygiene products are all considered toxic. This is because they contain chemical compounds known to cause severe tissue damage, similar to the effects of direct heat.

In most cases, children accidentally drink bleach or other similar products. However, if a teen or adult drinks it, it is most likely a suicide attempt and the patient will require additional emergency medical intervention.

How can you prevent this from happening?

Children usually drink toxic chemicals because someone has left a bottle open and exposed within reach of the child. The packaging resembles a bottle from which they would normally drink something.

The child ‘recognizes’ the bottle and takes a sip of the contents. Home safety depends on prevention. Read the following to avoid accidents.

• Avoid leaving toxic products (bleach, ammonia, detergent, shampoo) within reach of a child.
• Prevent your child from recognizing a recycled bottle as something edible. Keep toxic products under lock and key and in their original packaging so you can read the manufacturer’s instructions in case it’s drunk.
• Limit the use of toxic products in children’s play areas, as poisoning can also occur through the respiratory tract or the skin.

• White vinegar is highly recommended to be used as a cleaning product in the home. This is a powerful antibacterial agent that will not create toxic fumes or damage the skin, even with direct contact.

What should you do if your child has been drinking bleach?

The first thing to do is stay calm. Panicking instead of taking action will only make it worse. Your child needs you to act decisively. Basic first aid includes:

• Never induce vomiting – this will cause more injury as the product re-enters the esophagus.

• Give your child a few sips of water. No food or other drink. There is no home remedy for these kinds of events.
• Contact the emergency department on 112. Consult with the operator.
• Take your child to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible.
• Take the bottle with the substance your child has drunk with you.
• If your child is very young, he/she has probably only had a very small amount to drink. The taste is unpleasant, as manufacturers usually add bitters to prevent people from drinking them by mistake.
• If your child is older and has drunk a significant amount, it is possible that they did this to harm themselves. The faster you can get them to the emergency room, the more likely you can save their lives.

Symptoms of Consuming Toxic Substances

If you have a small child and don’t know if he/she has been drinking bleach or something similar, check your child to see if he/she has the following symptoms:

• Immediate discomfort or pain in the mouth and throat.
• Difficulty swallowing and hoarseness.
• Nausea and vomiting, with or without blood.
• Difficulty breathing and sharp sounds when breathing.
• Chestpain.

If your child has drunk pale and goes into shock (mental confusion, loss of consciousness, sweating, is pale, has cold hands and feet), then you need to act very quickly.

Remember, the most important thing to do if your child has been drinking bleach is to go to the nearest emergency room right away. If your child intentionally drank poisonous substances and survived, make sure he or she receives psychological counseling.