The Georgia Poison Center revealed that it has noticed a hike in children swallowing hand sanitizer in the United States. As per an earlier survey by the center, poison centers across the United States have reported an increase of about 400% in called related to children under 12 year old getting drunk to hand sanitizer. The increase has been noticed in last five years, the poison center said.

Dr. Rutherfoord Rose from the Virginia Poison Center talked on the matter and said the Virginia Poison Center’s calls are parallel to the nationwide experience for all poison centers. Most of the calls that the poison center in Virginia received since 2010 involved young children who swallowed hand sanitizer accidentally, according to Rose.

Talking about how kids can accidentally swallow hand sanitizer, Rose said it’s because of sanitizer’s attractive colors. The containers of the sanitizer are always attractive, and substance in them is always in attractive colors. From so many years, there has been no packaging of the sanitizer that could be kept away from the reach of children, Rose added.

According to Rose, there are about 10% cases where older kids purposely swallow hand sanitizer to feel intoxicated. Hand sanitizers are about 150 stronger that alcohol, Rose said.

Jeff Bennett, Pediatrician Doctor at KidMed, said a small amount of liquid can make a young kid get drunk. “The kids can put it in their mouth and swish it around and spit it out and they can still get significant alcohol intoxication”, Bennett said.