Officials are telling the public not to try the latest internet challenge. After a meme went viral in the later months of 2017, some teens started off 2018 by posting videos to Youtube eating Tide Pods.
The dangers of this is that it includes laundry detergent and fabric softener. If one chooses to consume one of the laundry packets, Heather Hudson, the Inter-professional Education Specialist at the Ontario Poison Centre says there some symptoms after consumption.
“Profuse vomiting, aspiration and difficult breathing after ingesting one.” are some of the symptoms of consuming the poisonous laundry packets.
However to some kids, they may think of these as candy. They are brightly coloured and some kids may want to put them in their mouth. It is recommended that they are kept locked up and far away from children.
Hudson thinks that there should be more awareness about this.
“We need to get the message out not to do this risky behaviour. It’s bad for your health and it can be dangerous, it’s not worth the risk.”
This has gone so far that Tide has brought in Rob Gronkowski for a commercial.
Hudson has a message for anyone thinking about trying it.
“Our message is don’t do it. If anyone is foolish enough to do it and try the challenge that they should call the Ontario Poison Centre and we have health care professionals that are able to help them right away and get the advice they need”.
