Doctors Warn Of Dangers From Plastic Bags

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29070, 5 December 1959, Page 7

Doctors Warn Of Dangers From Plastic Bags

Kneeling on the floor of a city office yesterday, a doctor rubbed a clear polythene wrappingjjag on the carpet to discover if it would build up an electrostatic charge, while a second doctor looked on. Rubbing the bag on the carpet was the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. A. Douglas). Watching him was his deputy. Dr. W I. Paterson. However, they were not just curious about the effect of friction on the bag. They were trying . out an American theory that children who suffocated while playing with plastic bags over their heads could not pull the bags off because the electrostatic charge held the bags to their faces. Both doctors warned against giving children plastic bags to play with, because of the chances of their suffocation. Many Have Died Dr. Paterson said that in the United States many children had died from suffocation while playing with plastic bags discarded after being emptied of dry cleaning, laundry or whatever had been carried home in them. He said that plastic bags are saved after being emptied because most people feel they could be used for something else. Youngsters got hold of the bags —attracted by their softness and silkiness—and almost always pulled them over their heads to “see through.” However, Dr. Paterson emphasised that not only polythene bags, but sheets of plastic used to cover pillows and bedding were equally dangerous.

Suddenly, because of the friction caused by handling, an electrostatic charge builds up and the plastic “grabs” the youngster’s face. Dr. Paterson said dizziness and muscular spasms caused the child to panic, and breathing would become difficult. A normal youngster would not be able to tear the plastic and would suffocate, he said. He suggested that plastic bags should be destroyed as soon as they were emptied so that children would not get hold of them. Dr. Paterson said if a child was found suffocating with a plastic bag over its head, the bag should be ripped off. artificial respiration given, and a doctor sent for.