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Children and Hand Sanitizer
Recently, the Georgia Poison Center and Georgia Emergency Rooms have noticed a troubling new trend—children drinking hand sanitizer.
- Most hand sanitizers contain more than 60% ethyl alcohol (ethanol) - more than most hard liquors
- Drinking ethanol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning
- Since 2010, poison centers have seen a 394% increase in hand sanitizer calls to our emergency hotlines
All hand sanitizing products are safe and effective when used properly but there is a potential for abuse. The alcohol used in the product has been altered to make it taste bad but this may not discourage some children from purposely drinking hand sanitizer in order to “get a buzz”, “get drunk” or from a dare. Teachers and parents should be aware of this and be on the lookout for any abuse.
If it is suspected that someone has swallowed some hand sanitizer, the Georgia Poison Center should be contacted immediately by dialing 1-800-222-1222. Telephone lines are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by doctors, pharmacists, nurses, toxicologists and poison information specialists. Our service is free and the information provided to us is kept private and confidential.
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Web Photos Can Reveal Secrets
Parents may not realize that when they or their children upload photos to the Internet they can disclose where they live, work, and play. Geotags identify where the photo or video was taken.
• New York Times: Web Photos That Reveal Secrets, Like Where You Live
• Birmingham science news | Examiner.com: Geotagging photos endangers children
• NBC Chicago: Online Photos Could Give Strangers Your Exact Location (Video) -
New Law Places More Children In Booster Seats
More children must use car booster seats under the new state law. Under the measure, nearly all children ages seven and under will now have to sit in booster seats while riding in a car in Georgia.
Changes to GA Booster Seat Law
What you need to Know Booster Seat Law
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Educational Terms in Everyday Language
Education, like all professions, has a specialized vocabulary that parents and others may have a difficult time understanding. The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development has assembled an online glossary, “A Lexicon of Learning,” which provides clear definitions of educational terms in everyday language.
