Earlier this month, a one-year-old girl named Triza died after drinking a glass of water which also contained silver cleaning fluid, according to this article in The Philippine Daily Inquirer. After realizing that a dangerous accident had occurred, Triza’s parents rushed her to the Ospital ng Maynila, where the child was pronounced dead on arrival.
As tragic as it is, this is a more common occurrence than most people realize. The article reports that, in 2008, silver cleaning fluid was the fourth most frequently ingested chemical poison, both accidentally and non-accidentally. It was also the third most commonly swallowed among children, based on information from the University of the Philippines-National Poison Management and Poison Control Center (UP-NPMPCC). The article also shares that from January to April 2009, the UP-NPMPCC dealt with 99 cases of silver cleaning poisoning which resulted in the deaths of six victims aged 18 and below.
The untimely demise of such a young child like Triza should serve as a cautionary tale to parents who may not have poison-proofed their homes—yet. Looking for practical measures to prevent accidental poisoning in your house? Start with these steps.
(Photo source: sxc.hu)
