10 kids drink windshield wiper fluid at daycare

AP ^ | 03/13/2009 | AP

[Responsibility2nd]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Hospital officials say 10 children drank windshield wiper fluid after staffers at an Arkansas daycare center mistook the liquid for Kool-Aid.

A pediatrician at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock says the children, ages 2 to 6, are OK, but continue to be monitored. The doctor said each child drank about an ounce late Thursday afternoon.

The hospital did not identify the Scott community daycare. State child welfare officials did not immediately return a call for comment Friday.

The fluid contained toxic alcohols. A pediatric toxicologist says those chemicals can cause kidney damage and blindness.

[Abathar]

That’s good news - I haven’t gotten any splashed in my mouth for a while...

[Jubal Madison]

“What the heck is wrong with the daycare workers?”

I don’t know. But it may be that keeping children is just a job to them. When a mother keeps her children, it is her world. When my daughters were small, my wife and I made the decision that she would stay home and not work. It involved things like only having 1 car, 1 TV with no cable, etc. It enabled my wife to spend time with the girls, help out with Bible School at church etc. and we feel like it really paid off. They have turned into 2 beautiful young ladies, they are both in college and believe it or not go to church on their own. I am really proud of them (and my beautiful wife). It does involve sacrifice, but if there is any way a woman can stay at home with her young-uns, the rewards can be huge. It really is a damn shame our society doesn’t seem to value stay at home moms. Outside of our churches, they probably do more for the betterment of our society than industry, academia or any other institution that we have.—JM

[seemoAR]

I wonder how many day care center workers are illegal and can’t read. ;0(

[agere_contra]

Thanks for the post. Interesting that the specific antidote is ethanol.

[Question_Assumptions]

I thought there was a plan to put hot pepper extract in windshield wiper fluid and antifreeze to keep animals from drinking it.

[ßuddaßudd]

Time to regulate, tax or ban windshield washer fluid to keep our children saaaaafe from people like these.

[N. Theknow]

A little something to wash down the lead paint chips?

[OB1kNOb]

If I heard the local radio station news correctly, apparently someone had put the jug of windshield washer fluid in the refrigerator. No reason why was offered. Apparently the one serving it didn’t even pay enough attention to notice it wasn’t Kool-Aid or juice.

[mysterio]

They have change the flavor of anti freeze to be nasty tasting a few years ago.

I know, I can barely stand to drink the stuff now.

[OldEagle]

"The ex-governor of arkansas adamantly thinks embryos aren’t fertilised."

Not exactly. He thinks some are and some aren't. Is that a politician or what???

[Right Wing Assault]

Interesting that the specific antidote is ethanol.

Turns out that the previous antidote for ethylene glycol (anti-freeze) is also ethanol. There is a new, better one called Fomepizole.

"Fomepizole is a competitive inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme that catalyzes the initial steps in the metabolism of ethylene glycol and methanol to their toxic metabolites." I'm assuming ethanol works the same way.

[boomop1]

You never freeze up though.

[DemforBush]

Glad the kids are okay. That day care provider is as dumb as...

[Darren McCarty]

Fools. I hope the daycare center has some good liability insurance. They are going to be paying some medical bills here at best, and a lot more at worst.