Kids and Adhesives – Play Safe, Stay Safe

The adhesives industry goes to great lengths to ensure safety with industrial and domestic adhesives, with good reason. There are endless warnings and health safety tips on the packages and online. The trouble, of course, is explaining that to kids. Dad's tube of heavy duty domestic fix-everything adhesive seems safe enough. Mum's craft glue is good for having fun. That, unfortunately, means that kids don't see much of a risk from materials that can cause some horrific situations.

The safety issues for young kids regarding adhesives simply can't be overstated. A simple tube of quick setting glue can cause more problems than anyone wants to think about. Worse, any incidents with the glues can mean the kids panic, and get into more trouble.

The absolute bottom line is:

• Kids have to be taught before they can handle most modern adhesives safely.
   
• At very young ages, the risks have to be managed.
   
• The safest option is to put some distance between kids and adhesives, particularly the very fast-acting adhesives.
   
• Adhesives should be out of reach and preferably in locked containers, like tool boxes or garage storage containers.
   
• Parents should learn how to respond quickly and effectively to any emergency involving adhesives.
   

Adhesives and Child Safety

The best way to get things organized to deal with a combination of kids and adhesives is to deal with things before they happen. Parental supervision needs to start with some information:

• Read the safety warnings on the packaging. This information contains all the basics.
   
• Find the Poisons Hotline in your area and make a note of the number. This is the best, quickest way to get information if you need it, and covers other household hazards as well.
   

The next stage of child safety precautions is to look for any signs of irritation, or indications of the child using adhesives without your knowledge.

The possible symptoms of irritation include:

• Nausea
   
• Dizziness
   
• Symptoms similar to an allergic reaction, red eyes, or breathing issues.
   

Please note: These symptoms can be scary. It's important to pin down the cause of the problem, so try to focus on that issue ASAP, even if the demands of comforting the child are the obvious natural parental reaction.

Kids and Adhesives in the Environment

The other possibilities in any exposure situation are environmental. The symptoms are the same, but the problems are different. A child may be quite innocent of using the adhesives themselves, but react to the presence of uncured adhesives, which can produce a similar range of symptoms. The problem is likely to be that the child has been breathing fumes or inhaled residues from sanding of adhesives.

• Remove the child from the environment, immediately.
   
• Seek medical advice.
   

The area should be thoroughly ventilated and the source of the problem positively identified, ASAP.

Critically important issues: Check safety warnings before administering first aid. It's possible to make things worse if you use the wrong methods of first aid. The Poisons Hotline or medical services will be able to assist.

The average domestic adhesive is safe enough if managed properly. Industrial adhesives, however, are potentially dangerous. Play safe, and keep the kids away from adhesives until they're old enough to know how to handle them.

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