Few things Germans love as much in the summer as barbecuing with family and friends. But dangers threaten not only from burns, but also from the liquid barbecue lighters. Just like colorful lamp oils, young children like to drink them – with fatal consequences. According to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), the most frequent poisonings in childhood occur through ingestion of household products. In addition to cleaning agents, these often include lamp oils and barbecue lighters – substances that are packaged in bottles and look as if they are intended for drinking. Lamp oils, in particular, are beautifully colored and thus reminiscent of sweet lemonades. Children sometimes drink them directly from the oil lamps. Particularly at risk for poisoning with paraffinic oils (paraffinic hydrocarbons) are children from the 2nd half of life until the age of 4 years.
Lamp oils and liquid barbecue lighters
Oils containing kerosene and petroleum distillates are found in lamp oils for garden torches and oil lamps and in liquid barbecue lighters. Accidents with these hazardous substances occur time and again – serious damage to health and even death can be the result.
The main danger is that the oils “creep” from the mouth into the lungs when swallowed, triggering severe inflammatory reactions. In recent years, affected children have had to be treated in hospital for several weeks in some cases. Even small amounts ingested when sucking the wick, for example, are dangerous. Symptoms of poisoning include severe coughing, shortness of breath (the child gasps for air) and possibly accelerated breathing.
Tips for child safety
- Liquid barbecue lighters and lamp oils should be kept out of children’s reach – after use, stow them in a place where children’s fingers can’t reach them.
- Never fill such substances into beverage bottles; use only containers with child-resistant caps.
- Use solid barbecue lighter in cube or bar form – there the liquid components are bound to sawdust or cork flour and thus do not get into the lungs if accidentally swallowed.
- If you do not want to do without wick lamps and garden torches, use only child-safe lamps and less dangerous oils, such as canola oil-based.
If, despite all precautions, a child has drunk even small amounts of liquid barbecue lighter, garden torch or lamp oil, the following rules apply:
- Do not induce vomiting! Vomit and – thus the oil – can enter the lungs, worsening symptoms. Offer tea, water or juice to drink.
- Persistent cough is alarm symptom! Keep your child upright. If the cough is severe or even shortness of breath, call the emergency services (emergency 112), if the cough is mild, present your child to the children’s hospital.
- No symptoms, but you suspect poisoning? Immediately contact a poison information center pder your pediatrician .
- Have the product/label in question ready (on the phone or take the original packaging to the doctor) – the more information available, the more targeted help can be given.
Aroma oils (fragrance oils, essential oils).
According to BfR, fragrance oils that are not directly lit, but vaporized, are much less dangerous than lamp oils. As a rule, only larger quantities can cause symptoms of poisoning by entering the gastrointestinal tract and through it into the blood. Possible consequences are nausea and vomiting, unsteadiness of gait and changes in consciousness. Certain essential oils such as eucalyptus can cause potentially life-threatening vocal fold spasms in younger children, and some aromatic oils cause intolerance reactions on the skin. Therefore, they should be used therapeutically (e.g., for colds) in younger children with caution or not at all.
Parents should keep essential oils and remedies containing these oils out of reach of their children. If a child has swallowed an aromatic oil, the following rules apply:
- Small amount (less than 1 ml) and inconspicuous child: no action needed.
- Larger amounts and/or discomfort: Contact physician.
