Is it Safe to Use Electric Mosquito Coils for Children? Safety Rules to Follow

Asri Ediyati |
Haibunda

Thursday, 27 Apr 2023 22:10 WIB

Electric mosquito coils are considered minimal risk, but is it safe to use for children? Before deciding to use it, let’s first look at the safety rules.

Dealing with mosquitoes is not easy especially when there are children who need to be protected. You may have installed all kinds of mosquito coils to ensure mosquitoes don’t come into the house, at least in the bedrooms. However, they always find a way in, Mother.

One of the popular mosquito repellents is electric mosquito coils. Electric mosquito coils are available in the form of vaporisers and mats. The steam is in charge of repelling mosquitoes.

This mosquito repellent requires electricity to work. So, the option of insect repellent is not a very effective or reliable option in areas with frequent or prolonged power outages.

Reported Mom Junction, dr. Saroja Balan, a pediatrician and neonatologist, explains how safe mosquito coils are for babies depending on their age, the type of insect repellent chosen, and whether they are used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Impact of Using Electric Mosquito Drugs

The liquid vaporizer type is probably the most common electric mosquito repellent used in households. Unfortunately, plug-in vaporizers usually contain harmful chemicals and inhaling them is not good for your baby’s health. Inhaling these noxious fumes can cause:

• breathing problems and exacerbate existing problems
• allergy
• irritation to baby’s eyes

Meanwhile, the smoke from an electric mat is also as toxic as a liquid vaporizer. So, it would be better to keep these objects away from children and babies. Prevent them from inhaling toxic fumes which can cause allergies and respiratory problems.

Chemicals in electric mosquito coils

Liquid vaporizers and mats use heat to vaporize the insect repellent, which then dissipates into an area. They are generally made from the household insecticides allethrin, prallethrin, and permethrin which repel insects when sprayed in vapor form.

Allethrin is known to be toxic in contact with skin, but has little toxic effect if inhaled. Prallethrin has low toxicity to mammals. Permethrin is said to have a similarly low toxicity and there is no evidence that it can be highly toxic to infants.

Therefore, it can be said that there is no definite indication of negative health effects from inhaling these compounds in the long term. However, the chemical can affect babies differently than adults.

Balan suggested, to minimize exposure to smoke from electric mosquito coils by using them for a short time. Also, consider using other means of repelling mosquitoes, such as protective clothing, mosquito nets, and age-specific mosquito repellents applied to the skin.

Tips for Safe Using it

Collect Baby Center, There are safe tips for using electric mosquito coils. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Always use mosquito repellent according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Buy registered products from well-known brands that have ingredients certified for use by the Central Insecticide Council (CIB).
• Try to keep children away from rooms where mosquito coils are used to kill mosquitoes. After the room is free of mosquitoes, turn off the insect repellent before returning the baby to the room.
• Install screens on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house. It can also help keep the house well-ventilated and remove residual insect repellent fumes.
• Use reels on the outside of doors and windows to keep mosquitoes away from entry points. It is best not to use it in closed or crowded spaces, where family members often gather.
• Do not sleep in a closed room with electric mosquito coils on. Also, never keep insect repellent next to a child’s bed or sleeping area.
• Always use electric mosquito coils in a safe place out of reach of babies. Electric mosquito coils can also pose a risk of electric shock. Also, keep it away from flammable items such as curtains, bed sheets, books or chemicals.
• Insect repellent can be poison if swallowed. Make sure children don’t have access to pad refills and liquid vapouriser bottles. Do not let children play with these items.

The Safest and Effective Mosquito Repellent

If you don’t want to deal with the chemical poisons in electric mosquito coils. There are ‘mosquito repellents’ that are considered the safest and most effective, namely mosquito nets. What’s the best part of using a mosquito net? They do not have a negative effect on the health of the baby.

Mosquito nets are also available in various sizes. There are mosquito nets for cots and for family beds too. There are also mosquito nets designed for strollers. Portable mosquito nets are also available, which you can use to cover your baby wherever he sleeps.

The downside is that mothers cannot use mosquito nets all day, because it will be inconvenient for children, especially babies who have to be breastfed frequently or change their baby’s diaper at night.

Mosquito nets are the best choice when you sleep with your baby or your baby doesn’t wake up during the night or is weaned.

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Also see how to clean the house properly so that it doesn’t become a nest for dengue fever mosquitoes in the video below:

(rap/rap)