HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1091.115 2012-2014Murashige, Laura
From: Sally Ancheta <sally@tobaccofreehawaii.org>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 8:25 PM
To: David, Maile; Kanuha, Dru; Poindexter, Valerie; Eoff, Karen; Wille, Margaret; Chung,
Aaron; Paleka, Daniel; Onishi, Dennis; Ilagan, Greggor
Cc: Council Testimony; Tami MacAller
Subject: FW: First Child's Death From Liquid Nicotine Reported as 'Vaping' Gains Popularity
Mon Dear Xavat'i COUMY COUnCIL MemseRs,
Please ReaD mov, an aRticLe mat Reveus me tommy of eSD LIQWDs. I sxaRe ms vnx YOU to unmslam Me Danms of
eXPosuRe to W's anD WS ReveaLs a veRY tRaw exrosne to eWs.
SaLLY Amen
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Coalition for a Tobacco -Free Hawaii '
East Hawaii Community Coalition Coordinator `n
sally@tobaccofreehawaii.org
cr .
www.tobaccofreehawaii.org
(808) 936-2686
Mahalo Hawaii County Council for making all Hawaii County Parks, Beaches, Recreation Facilities & All Veh& w3thl^.
minors present SMOKE-FREE & for raising the age of sale of ALL tobacco products to age 21!
Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Comm. No 101
1 ' I
Ref. To:
Ref. Date 0E "120
(NEW YORK) — A toddler from upstate New York may have been the first child to die from poisoning by
liquid nicotine, the substance used in e -cigarettes, in the U.S., concerning health officials as e -cigarettes
continue to rise in popularity.
Police reported that the 1 -year-old child died after ingesting liquid nicotine at a home in Fort Plain, New York,
on Tuesday. The child was found unresponsive and rushed to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Fort Plain police released a statement saying the death is believed to be a "tragic accident." They declined to say
whether the liquid nicotine was associated with an e -cigarette.
But health officials are concerned if steps aren't taken to protect children, they could see more fatal accidents
similar to this one.
The rise of e -cigarettes and "vaping" in recent years has also meant a rise in the purchase of liquid nicotine.
Coming in flavors like cotton candy or gummy bear, health officials say that the brightly colored liquid could
appeal to young children.
"One teaspoon of liquid nicotine could be lethal to a child, and smaller amounts can cause severe illness, often
requiring trips to the emergency department," the American Association of Poison Control centers in a
statement Friday. "Despite the dangers these products pose to children, there are currently no standards set in
place that require child -proof packaging."
In November the American Association of Poison Control Centers announced that the number of dangerous
"exposures" to liquid nicotine has skyrocketed in recent years with 3,638 exposures as of Nov. 30. An exposure
means coming into contact with liquid nicotine through ingestion, inhalation or by absorbing the substance
through the skin.
The number is more than double the 1,543 exposures reported in 2013 and exponentially higher than in 2011
when 271 exposures were reported.
Before this week, the only confirmed death related to liquid nicotine happened in 2012 when a man injected
himself with the substance, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.
Dr. Donna Seger, director of the poison control center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said her center
has started to get more calls about exposure to e -cigarettes or liquid nicotine.
"They're not that difficult to get into," Seger said of the vials that contain the nicotine. "The issue is once the
exposure occurs, it could be bad."
Seger said just a small amount of nicotine can cause dangerous symptoms in children, including seizures.
Phil Daman, president of the Smoke -Free Alternatives Trade Association, said he was "saddened to hear the
terrible news."
"[We] want to always be mindful to put safe products on the market," said Daman, who said the trade
association recommends childproofing products to "err on the side of caution."
Daman questioned if the child could have gotten a hold of a high-grade liquid nicotine that could be a much
higher concentration than what is in many common e -cigarette products. Because e -cigarettes are not federally
regulated there is a wide -range of liquid that could be purchased to use in e -cigarette products, ranging from
potent high grade liquid nicotine to material that has an extremely small amount of nicotine.
In April the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention warned they were seeing an increase of calls to
poison control centers for liquid nicotine exposure and children were becoming sick after ingesting, inhaling or
absorbing the chemical through their skin. The most common symptoms were vomiting, nausea or eye irritation.
"Use of these products is skyrocketing and these poisonings will continue," U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention Director Dr. Tom Frieden said in April. "E -cigarette liquids as currently sold are a threat to
small children because they are not required to be childproof, and they come in candy and fruit flavors that are
appealing to children."
To combat these cases of increased exposure some state lawmakers have introduced bills that would require e -
cigarette companies to put child -resistant caps on bottles of liquid nicotine.
In New York State, a bill passed earlier in the year that would require child resistant containers for liquid
nicotine. Gov. Andrew Cuomo is set to sign the bill in the next few weeks, according to ABC News affiliate
WABC-TV.
At least one e -cigarette retailer, Vapor World, changed their packaging this year so that bottles of liquid
nicotine are more child resistant.
From: Clement, Jane [mailto:Jane.Clement@hawaiicounty.gov]
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2014 4:00 PM
To: Sally Ancheta
Subject: RE: First Child's Death From Liquid Nicotine Reported as'Vaping' Gains Popularity
Hi Sally,
We unfortunately cannot open this on our county computers. Can this be sent in another format?
Jane Clement
L. ,gi,slative Assistant to Council Chair Dru Kanuha
F)isto ,t r Central Kona
'-")3 }
s`,nd Councilman Cru Kandla on Facebook at facebook.com/Councilman Kan uha
From: Sally Ancheta [ma iIto: saIly@tobaccofreehawaii.org]
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2014 3:52 PM
To: Clement, Jane
Subject: FW: First Child's Death From Liquid Nicotine Reported as 'Vaping' Gains Popularity
Mon Jane,
tmiic MS -Mase reel rRee to roRvan.
Saw
From: Forrest Batz [mailto:fbatz@hawaii.edu]
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2014 3:43 PM
To: Jessica Yamauchi; Diane Lobre; Roella Foronda; Sally Ancheta; Tami MacAller; 'Clement, Jane';
HedrickHNECA@aol.com; shellv.hcoa@hawaiiantel.net; ekakioka@lava.net; michelle@huimalamahawaii.com,
ciennings@hhsc.org; cnago@msn.com; kianistutu@gmail.com; legriffi@bayclinic.org; ayamanaka@co.hawaii.hi.us;
zee@hawaii.edu; aburian@co.hawaii.hi.us; btina@co.hawaii.hi.us; cmukai@hawaii.edu;
Charlene Masuhara/HILOH/HIDOE@notes. kl2.hi.us; michelle araki@notes.kl2.hi.us;
Gregg Waki/WAIAKEAH/HIDOE@notes.kl2.hi.us; dhorio@hawaiicounty.gov; hkaakimaka@hhsc.org;
ianmarie@hawaii.edu; kerri okamura@ktasuperstores.com; knccai@vahoo.com; lukalani@hotmail.com;
ronald.paik@doh.hawaii.gov; sclaveri@hawaii.edu; supakit@hawaii.edu; sulma@hawaii.edu;
Jill.Tamashiro@doh.hawaii.gov; 'Lay@hiwedohawaii.org;'Sissie Pittullo'
Subject: First Child's Death From Liquid Nicotine Reported as'Vaping' Gains Popularity
First Child's Death From Liquid Nicotine Reported as Taping' Gains Popularity
http:/Ikticradio com/abc health /first-childs-death-from-liquid-nicotine-reported-as-vaping-gains-popularity-
abcid35147652/