7 Surprising Facts About Vaping and Accidental Ingestion

Electronic cigarettes and vaping devices are swiftly rising in popularity, and so are risks, especially ingestion of the products by children. Vape liquids are appealing in colorful packaging and come with yummy flavors, which makes children and even pets accidentally or deliberately take them, with sometimes dangerous consequences. Collecting data on these risks is important to address co-concerns and increase protection.

Vaping and Accidental Ingestion

1. Rising Cases Among Young Children

   Accidental ingestion of E-liquids has well increased primarily in children of age 5 years and below. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), e-cigarette-related exposure cases are 32% higher between April 2022 and March 2023. Just a few drops of liquid nicotine can be fatal to a toddler, a reason why parents should learn the dangers of vaping and potential poisoning.

   Children are particularly at risk because nicotine poisoning can occur with even a small amount of liquid. Some effects include vomiting, increased heart rate, excessive salivation, and in severe cases seizures.

   What can be done?

   Parents and guardians are advised to keep vape liquids locked and out of the reach of children and pets.

2. High Toxicity of E-Liquids

   

   These products are so attractive and popular that they are available in the market in different flavors like bubblegum, cotton candy, and many more, which has made them very popular among the youth. However, these same flavors also give rise to the often-seen issue of kids being attracted to vape liquids that they mistakenly think are flavored candy or juices.

   A study conducted in the Journal of Pediatrics shows that the most accidental ingestions were of flavored vapes. These products are also generally not labeled well, thus increasing the chances of confusion.

   The FDA, for instance, has called for stricter guidelines for flavor labeling, but enforcement has not been easy. It mainly becomes the responsibility of caregivers to explain to children that consumption of vape liquid is dangerous.

3. Pets Are Also Vulnerable to Vape Liquid Poisoning

   It’s not only humans who may accidentally ingest e-liquid. Pets; small animals like dogs, cats are also susceptible. They will likely consume liquids left within their reach in a vaping device. The Pet Poison Helpline indicates that direct exposure to nicotine takes as little as two chocolate bars to endanger a dog’s life due to effects like salivation, shaking, increased heart rate, and sometimes collapse.

   Nicotine overdose in animals is a medical emergency in animals. Well, if your pet has consumed vape liquid the thing to do is seek medical help without fail. It’s therefore advised to keep all vape products in closed cabinets or high shelves to ensure pets don’t access them.

4. Elf Bar: A Common Culprit

   

   A disposable e-cigarette, Elf Bar, a specific form of poisoning was recently seen in children’s cases. According to the CDC, more than 90 percent of the exposures reported concerning children younger than five were associated with this brand. This goes to show that specific products play a role in the problem of vaping and accidental ingestion.

5. Accidental Ingestion Can Occur Even Without Swallowing

   An interesting fact is that nicotine poisoning doesn’t necessarily mean that you have ingested the vape liquid. Dermal absorption through the skin can take nicotine into the bloodstream and bring about toxic effects. For example, if a child touches the skin with vape juice that he/she has just accidentally spilled on it, then nicotine will quickly find its way into the bloodstream. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), warns that symptoms similar to those of ingestion include dizziness, nausea, and irregular heartbeats.

   Parents should educate children not to come close to the vape liquids, and if they do, their hands should not touch them, and make sure the containers are closed well.

6. Unregulated Vape Products Are Especially Dangerous

   Many of the vaping products sold in the US today are safe to a certain extent, but unregulated or fake products are more dangerous. These products include those with eventually higher levels of nicotine and those that do not come with the child safety features.

   Newly available (unregulated) types of vapes outside markets or over the Internet have been associated with increased cases of accidental poisoning. More so, the FDA has raised concern that many of them also contain similar poisonous substances hence more dangerous if consumed.

   The authorities also encouraged consumers to buy only approved vape products, and it is important to determine the authenticity of any product found to have been sold. It is also possible to check for signs of a product having undergone certification by various bodies such as the FDA can add more safety to the protection provided by the authentication features.

7. Vaping Accidents Are Straining Emergency Services

   Increased cases of vaping and experiences such as ingestion by children have increased the burden on the Emergency service. The National Poison Data System (NPDS) has recently found that calls linked to e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine exposure have increased in recent years.

   Doctors and emergency room physicians have expressed concern that such cases are difficult to deal with, particularly in children since situations may worsen quickly. Treatment includes managing abnormal heart rhythms, avoiding fluid loss, and in severe cases the use of antidotes such as activated charcoal.

   
   

What You Can Do to Stay Safe

Store Safely: It is always recommended to store all vape liquids out of reach of children and away from young ones.

Educate Your Family: Educate the children on the effects of the narcotic substance, nicotine together with other vaping products.

Choose Trusted Products: Stay away from vape products that are either fake or not authorized. Do not use counterfeit or prohibited vape products.

Just Quit the Vape habit for your Children’s sake and start living a healthy lifestyle. It is important to note that children’s bodies and brains which are still in the process of developing can easily be negatively impacted by these toxins.

References

• Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Jayne Leonard — Updated on February 16, 2023, Medical News Today, Nicotine poisoning: What are the symptoms, and can you overdose?

• Reviewed by Danielle Ellis, B.Sc.Aug 3, 2023, News Medical Life Sciences, Doctors sound alarm about child nicotine poisoning as vapes flood the US market

• Nicole A Tashakkori, Brian L Rostron, Carol H Christensen, Karen A Cullen, April 1, 2022–March 31, 2023, E-Cigarette–Associated Cases Reported to Poison Centers — United States