Vaping Concerns Rise as Calls to Poison Control Increase
The increasing availability of e-cigarettes and other nicotine products has led to a concerning rise in calls to the national Poisons Information Centre, according to accident prevention authorities. Data from SA Health, shared by child accident prevention group Kidsafe SA, reveals a significant jump in nicotine-related calls from South Australians. In 2023, the Poison Information Centre received 78 calls related to nicotine, compared to 53 in 2022.
The majority of these calls involved vaping products, with a particularly worrying increase in incidents involving children under five years old. A total of 41 reported exposures to e-cigarette liquids and devices were recorded in this age group.
"Parents were calling because they had noticed that their child had in their hands either a vape device or the vape liquid or a cigarette butt," said Kidsafe SA CEO Holly Fitzgerald.
Eight children were taken or referred to hospital after ingesting nicotine substances, and over 30 cases involved fears that children had swallowed, not just inhaled, the substances.
"More nicotine-type products are coming onto the market, and that is a real concern ... from a child safety and injury prevention perspective," Ms Fitzgerald said. "The nicotine products are often flavoured, they smell really nice, they're colourful and bright."
"We know that vape devices are very much like that so, they are very attractive to young children ... if they do get their hands on a nicotine device such as a vape or vape liquid, they'll often imitate their parents and put it in their mouth."
The tragic death of an 18-month-old child in Victoria in 2018, after consuming a highly toxic liquid his mother had been mixing with vape juice, highlights the urgent need for increased awareness of the dangers associated with these products.
Kidsafe SA is launching a new campaign to educate parents and caregivers about the potential risks of nicotine poisoning.
"The South Australian Poison Information Centre calls are consistent with what other states and territories are finding in terms of the increased number of nicotine exposures and young children," Ms Fitzgerald said.
"You should treat your nicotine products like you would any other poison. They need to be locked up high and out of the way."
If you suspect your child has ingested nicotine, call the 24-hour Poisons Information Centre immediately on 13 11 26. In emergencies, such as those in which children have collapsed or are not breathing, call triple-0 (000) for an ambulance first.