The Poison Information Centre at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town has seen an increase in inquiries due to children ingesting hand sanitizers.
The sanitisers may be harmful to children due to their high alcohol content.
The hospital is calling on all adults, parents, and caregivers to be extra vigilant and apply proper supervision over children during the lockdown period imposed due to the coronavirus.
The hospital usually sees a rapid increase in burns injuries during this time of the year, especially during school holidays.
With the extended period of lockdown, there are additional concerns.
“With children of all ages now confined in spaces they are vulnerable to a range of injuries such as burns, falls, poisons, suffocation, electrocution and even drowning. The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and Child Safe are calling on on adults, parents, and caregivers to be extra vigilant and apply proper adult supervision over young ones during this time,” says Dwayne Evans, Spokesperson.
In the video below South Africans are urged to take precautionary measures against the coronavirus: