As the sales of e-cigarettes have escalated—industry watchers estimate that vaping will be a $10 billion business by 2017—so have the number of injuries caused by the product. With adults, most of the casualties have been linked to defective batteries or heating coils, often leading the devices to explode and cause serious burns. However, safety officials say that vaping also poses serious risk of injury to small children.
One of the biggest fears of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials is that youngsters will suffer nicotine poisoning. FDA staff members point out that the e-juice, which contains liquid nicotine, comes in a variety of child-friendly flavors, such as bubble gum, chocolate, fruit and candy. They also note that the bottles are small and colorful, making them accessible and attractive to small children. They fear that many children will falsely believe that the e-juice is a kind of candy. Their fears are well-founded, according to statistics compiled by the National Poison Data System, which found a 1,500% increase in the number of children under the age of 6 who suffered nicotine poisoning from e-cigarettes from 2013 to 2015. They also reported the death of one child from nicotine poisoning.
Nicotine poisoning poses a serious health risk to children, and can cause nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Experts say a child can suffer seizures that can last as long as half an hour. The FDA has been asked to require e-juice manufacturers to package the product in child-proof bottles that include warnings about the health risks to children.
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If you or a loved one has been injured because of the carelessness or negligence of another person, a personal injury lawyer can help protect your rights. For a free initial consultation, contact us by e-mail or call our offices, in New Brunswick at 732-247-3600 or in Somerville at 908-448-2560.
