Why you really should keep bleach out of reach: Toddlers suffer TWICE as many permanent eye injuries than adults who work with chemicals

August 8, 2016

Factory workers were believed to be at most risk of chemical eye injuries
But one year olds are twice as likely to suffer eye burns than 24 year olds
However, seven year olds were 13 times less likely to suffer an accident
Experts believe household cleaners and other chemicals are to blame

Stephen Matthews For Mailonline

Published:
03:23 EST, 8 August 2016

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Updated:
03:24 EST, 8 August 2016

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From fitting child safety locks on cupboards and keeping dangerous products out of reach – most parents will do everything they can to protect their child from harm.

But inevitably, slip-ups happen and children somehow manage to get their hands where they shouldn’t.

So it is hardly surprising that scientists have discovered babies face the highest risk of suffering chemical burns in their eyes – with household products such as bleach are to blame.

Children aged just one years old are twice as likely to suffer chemical eye burns than 24 year olds, scientists have discovered

They beat another at risk group such as adults who work with dangerous chemicals

One year olds are twice as likely to suffer eye burns than 24 year olds – who have the highest rate among adults, a new study found.

But the injuries weren’t as common in children who were old enough to understand the danger of chemicals – as seven year olds were 13 times less likely to suffer an accident.

Chemical burns to the eyes are one of the most critical eye injuries because damage continues long after contact, leaving them impossible to repair.

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Experts say the key to reducing these injuries is to simply keep household cleaners and other chemicals – most notably products in spray bottles – out of reach of young children.

Lead researcher Sterling Haring, from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said a simple change to the design of spray bottles could make a real impact.

He added: ‘These injuries can occur in an instant. Making household chemicals and cleaners inaccessible to young children is the best way to put an end to this.

‘These are terrible injuries; they occur most frequently in the smallest of children and they are entirely preventable.

‘These children do not deal with chemicals on the job. They are injured largely because they get into chemicals such as household cleaners that are improperly stored.’

Experts say the key to reducing these injuries is to simply keep household cleaners and other chemicals out of reach of young children

Researchers analysed four years of data – which included more than 30 million annual emergency medical visits.

They found there were 144,000 accidents relating to chemical burns across the UK with most occurring at home.

While very young children have the highest rates of chemical eye burns, working-age people are still at high risk.

When looking at decades instead of just single years, 20-29 year olds had the highest rates, followed by 30-39 year olds and then 40-49 year olds.

The findings highlight the need to educate the public about how to avoid the injuries.

Dr Haring added: ‘Our research shows that age-specific prevention strategies need to be put in place to keep people of all ages safe from what can be devastating injuries.’