The availability of e-cigarettes and other nicotine products has led to a significant increase in calls to the national Poisons Information Centre, with SA Health data revealing a rise in nicotine-related calls from South Australians. Kidsafe SA highlighted a concerning trend where calls related to nicotine, particularly from vaping products, saw a notable increase from 53 to 78 in the past year, with a substantial portion of these calls involving children under the age of five.
Kidsafe SA CEO Holly Fitzgerald emphasized how parents called in reporting incidents where young children had gotten hold of vape devices, liquids, or cigarette butts, leading to exposures. The appeal of colorful, flavored, and aromatic nicotine products, especially vape devices, increases the risk of unintentional ingestion or exposure among young children who may imitate adult behavior by putting these items in their mouths. Tragically, the dangers of nicotine exposure were underscored by a past incident in Victoria where an 18-month-old child died after ingesting a highly toxic liquid used in vape juice.
The highlighted risks have prompted urgent calls for better awareness of the dangers associated with nicotine products, particularly in households with young children, leading Kidsafe SA to launch a new campaign for increased vigilance. To address the rising concerns, Parents are being reminded to treat nicotine products as they would any other poison, keeping them securely locked away and out of reach of children to prevent accidental exposures. The gravity of the situation has been reiterated by SA Health's executive director, Dr. Chris Lease, stressing that nicotine poisoning can have severe consequences ranging from nausea and seizures to cardiac and respiratory failure, underscoring the importance of safe storage practices.