The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is alerting parents to the dangers of nappy sacks (used to dispose of soiled nappies) to their babies a d young toddlers.
This comes after research showing that least 12 babies in England and Wales, aged from two-months-old to a year, have died since 2001 from suffocation or choking after putting a nappy sack in their mouth.
Parents often store nappy sacks within close reach for nappy changes, but this has aided children to be able to reach them and cause them harm.
Common scenarios in the deaths include instances where nappy sacks have been stored within the baby’s reach (e.g. under a mattress or close to a cot for convenience), especially when changing a nappy in the middle of the night, says RoSPA.
RoSPA is therefore warning parents of the risks and advising them to never place nappy sacks in a baby’s cot or pram, and to keep them a safe distance from inquisitive babies and young children.
Babies are at particular risk because despite naturally grasping items and putting them in their mouths, they find it difficult to let go or remove them when in trouble.
The flimsiness of nappy sacks also makes them small enough to fit into little mouths. Also, they do not rustle in the same way as plastic shopping bags so parents won’t always be aware that their child has taken one.
Nappy sacks can, therefore, be easily breathed in by babies without parents realising.
Sheila Merrill, public health adviser for RoSPA, said: “Parents and carers are generally aware of the risk posed by plastic bags but don’t seem to realise that nappy sacks are just as dangerous.
“Children are naturally inquisitive. They want to touch things and put objects in their mouth, but RoSPA has found that, sadly, this can sometimes end in tragedy where nappy sacks are concerned.
“The risk comes after changing or bathing a baby as parents often put nappy sacks down without thinking, and it only takes a moment for a baby to grab it and choke.
“RoSPA is aware of 12 baby deaths in England and Wales but believes there could be many more that have fallen under the radar.”
The warning builds on a campaign by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, which first spotted the risk of nappy sacks when a baby died from asphyxia in 2010.
ANEC, the European consumer interest organisation, has reported that collecting details on nappy sack deaths has proved difficult and that it is possible there are greater numbers than those reported in England and Wales.
RoSPA, unsurprisingly, is concerned that the lack of mandatory suffocation warning advice on packaging and the availability of nappy sacks as loose bags, instead of on a roll, increases the risk to babies.
If you work for an organisation or run a business that is involved with children’s services you can apply for nappy sack safety leaflets to distribute to parents – visit RoSPA’s nappy sack safety advice page: http://www.rospa.com/homesafety/currentcampaigns/nappysacks/default.aspx.
