After all, they’d already seen one rough and tumble boy try to wreck the house and put everything in his mouth, so they were ready for the other two. Or so they thought, until one brief, fluke of a moment.

Heidi World Slaydon gave her son Blaze, who was 18 months old at the time, a bath. Heidi placed Blaze down briefly to grab something and when she picked him up, she realized he’d bitten into a laundry detergent pod. The pod box was said to be child-proofed and Heidi placed it so high up that she used a stool to reach it. But somehow, one got on the floor.

Chris Slaydon, Blaze’s father, said his little boy couldn’t have been on the floor more than 15 seconds. But that was enough time to put it in his mouth and bite into it. After calling poison control, the Slaydons were told to monitor their little child. Within a matter of minutes, Blaze was stumbling around like he was drunk. His parents scooped up Blaze and rushed him to the emergency room in Vernon, Texas.

Teddy Bear Transport took Blaze to Cook Children’s. He spent 10 days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) after ingesting the laundry detergent pod. He suffered throat burn, infiltrated lungs and a blockage of airway passage, causing him to spend 10 days on a breathing tube.

Doctors treated Blaze with a strong dosage of steroids and a year later Blaze is doing well physically. Although his dad says his son still has the occasional nightmare about the traumatic event. He’s not alone.

“I can’t describe the utter fear we had then,” Chris Slaydon said. “It was terrifying. One, you are so helpless. Two, it’s a child full of innocence. We aren’t talking about an 18 year old. This is an 18 month old. We can’t even talk with him about what’s going on. He’s still in diapers. What happened to Blaze could happen to anyone.”

Single-load laundry detergent pods hit the market in early 2012. In the May 2016 edition, Pediatrics released a comprehensive report on the dangers of "Pediatric Exposures to Laundry and Dishwasher Detergents in the United States."

The study found that of the 117 children who required intubation, 104 were exposed to laundry degergent packets. During the study, 2013-2014, there were two deaths and both were linked to laundry detergent packets.

Because the number of children making contact with these pods, ConsumerReports^® announced that it would not include pods on its list of recommended laundry detergents and strongly urged households with children 6 and under not to keep them in the house.

Laundry pod exposures reported to Texas Poison Center Network (Oct. 1, 2014 – July 16, 2015):

Corwin Warmink, M.D., medical director of the Emergency Department at Cook Children’s, says children under school age are particularly at risk due to the packaging of the pods looking like candy, so ingestion is more likely. Smaller children also are more at risk for severe complications.

The most common effects are vomiting, coughing, choking, fatigue or drowsiness and eye irritation/pain. But it can be much more serious.

“Deaths have occurred and these exposures can be quite severe, causing respiratory depression and failure,” Dr. Warmink said. “The easiest solution is to not keep any such detergent in the house, if you have children … especially under age 6. If you choose to use them, even after all the warnings, keep them in an absolutely child-proof, high cabinet. Although, I’m not sure if there is such a thing”

Just ask the Slaydon family.

“I’m not angry with the company or anything like that,” Chris Slaydon said. “This is a chemical and it’s manufactured to be extremely potent and concentrated. But because of that, it’s a lot more dangerous to kids. You can try to watch your kids 24/7, but it only took seconds for us to take our eyes off of Blaze. People need to be aware this can happen to them. Kids get into stuff. I don’t really blame anyone. I just want parents to be aware that it can happen to them and if you have a little child, don’t keep these products in your house.”

Learn more about poison prevention, by clicking here. 

I collect snow globes of cities I love. When my stepson, Sage, was little he would love to watch us shake them and watch the snow swirl violently around settling gently on the miniature cities. Shortly after starting kindergarten, I found Sage sitting on our couch holding a snow globe and looking really sad.

When I asked him what was wrong he held up the globe he was holding and shook it and in the softest voice said, "Look Sand... It's 9/11." I sat down next to him, took the Globe with the pre9/11 New York City skyline and sat it on the table. He put his hand in mine and we sat there watching the snow swirl around the miniature city.

I realized he thought the snow was paper and that he must have seen footage of that day somewhere. We have to talk to our children about 9/11.This day makes us feel sad and angry. Our hearts ache. The images haunt us. The pain is still so fresh.

How do we possibly explain this day to our children, most of whom weren’t even born when the towers fell. We want to protect our children and shield them from evil. But, no matter how hard we try, it is there. It will ALWAYS be there. The planes crashing. The towers falling. Our illusion of safety demolished.

First we must listen. Children are taught about 9/11 in school as a part of national history. They may want to express their thoughts and feelings. Let them talk. Listen to what they have to say.As you talk to your children, be age appropriate in your discussions. You do not need to tell your children graphic details.

Be honest. Answer the questions they ask. Correct any misperceptions they have.Try to focus your discussion on stories of resilience and hope. Talk about how the entire world responded to our country with support and love. Talk about the heroes of 9/11. If you lost a family member on that day, tell stories about how wonderful that person was and their importance in your life.Children want to know they are safe. Remind them about all the changes that have been made to make sure we are safe.

For younger children; it is important their world feel secure.Monitor TV and the Internet. On the anniversary of 9/11, many news outlets will show memorial coverage. Try to limit the coverage they see. There are many graphic images on the Internet as well. If your child sees an image that is upsetting, let them talk to you about their feelings. Tell them it upsets you as well. Remind them it is Ok not to watch or look at things that make them feel sad. Again, reassure them that they are safe.Discuss with your children that today should be about reflection and remembering, but also a day to tell those we love how much they mean to us. Take a moment today to reach out to others and teach your children to do the same.Walk in peace today and give thanks to those who are protecting us.

We will never forget.

About the author

Sandra Peak, M.D., joined Cook Childrens Physician Network in Lewisville in 2004. Dr. Peak enjoys gardening, yoga, and boating and in her spare time can be found at the lake with her husband Jay, stepson Sage and the world’s most amazing Lab, Sugar Mae.

Because of the icy road conditions lately, you’ve probably kept your family indoors recently to make sure they were safe. But if you aren’t careful this winter, you risk new dangers inside your home.

Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘silent killer’ because it’s an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas. The Texas Department of State Health Services says, “Several household sources, such as gasoline-powered tools and generators, produce carbon monoxide. Anything that burns can produce carbon monoxide. The fumes are extremely hazardous and can cause sudden illness or death."

Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous to infants, women who are pregnant and their unborn children, the elderly and people with heart or breathing problems.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) recommends taking the following steps to prevent carbon monoxide exposure:

· Do have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.

· Do install a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in your home and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. If the detector sounds leave your home immediately and call 911.

· Do seek prompt medical attention if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseous.

· Don’t use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window.

· Don’t run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your house, even if you leave the door open.

· Don’t burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t vented.

· Don’t heat your house with a gas oven.