Easy For You, Tough For Tots

IMPAK Corporation, a provider of packaging, sealers and sorbent systems, has announced the availability of “child-resistant” pouches and gusseted bags to combat accidental ingestion of poisons by children, especially curious toddlers. The Child Resistant packaging is designed to ASTM D3475 standards and tested to CFR 1700.20 protocols. The announcement was made by IMPAK President/Technical Director Kevin Cullen.

Looks Like Candy

“With the proliferation of consumer products that resemble candy or treats, there’s been an uptick in incidents of accidental poisoning,” says Cullen. “Our pouches and bags can dramatically reduce these tragic incidents by utilizing a unique "tab" combined with a special opaque material to minimize interest by curious children.” According to Cullen, various sizes of the childproof pouch and bag can be made by IMPAK upon request.

Easy For You, Tough For Tots

IMPAK’s modified packaging comes installed with a special tab requiring adult level dexterity to open the package. It’s easy for adults to open and access the contents, but extremely difficult for children to do so. “These bags are great for all sorts of products, from cleaning “pods” that resemble hard candy, to medical marijuana,” adds Cullen.

Grim Statistics

Each year in the United States, a staggering 800,000 children are rushed to the emergency room, victims of chemical or medicinal poisoning. Thirty of the children will die. About 90 percent of those poisonings occur in the home. According to keepyourchildsafe.org:

• 70 percent of non-fatal poisonings occur in children between the ages of 1 and 2.
• 24 million people call poison control centers every year with questions about accidental poisoning.
• Each year, 100,000 children are accidentally poisoned by ingesting medication belonging to grandparents.
• 12,000 children under the age of five accidentally ingest cleaning agents.
• Many poisonings might not cause death, but can cause permanent damage to the child.

Source: IMPAK Corporation.