A tragic death in an Oklahoma national park underscores the need to be extra careful with hazardous materials when camping with children.
On June 9, a two-year old child died of suspected citronella oil poisoning after being rushed to Arbuckle Memorial Hospital in Sulphur, Oklahoma. The child’s family had been camping at Chickasaw National Recreation Area. After seeing the child holding a container of citronella oil fuel, the parents called the poison control center and took the child to the hospital. But it was too late. The youngster died just a few hours later.
Citronella oil, a common fuel for insect-repelling torches and lanterns (aka tiki torches, patio lanterns, or bug lanterns), can be acutely toxic. Natural citronella is used to make perfumes and other expensive aromatics, but the lantern fuel variety is typically synthesized from turpentine. The toxicology of this stuff is pretty ominous. When aspirated into the lungs, citronella oil fuel coats delicate tissues with toxic vapors, causes chemical pneumonia, and can trigger fatal pulmonary arrest. As this incident illustrates, it is especially dangerous when ingested by small children.
This tragedy underscores the need for campers to be extra careful to keep lantern fuel, charcoal lighter, cleaning fluids, and other hazardous materials out of the reach of small children.
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Comments
This person is a liar. No alcohol is permitted at the park and none was at this small child's party.
[Ed: Alcohol is permitted in the campground area at Chickasaw.]
The last commenter is wrong [about the alcohol rule]. According to the park regulations, alcohol is permitted in picnic areas and campgrounds.
It is so sad the loss of a love one, but blame can not be put on the Parks for parent’s negligence. Parents must be responsible for their kids at the camp site Drinking and Kids do not MIX
Parent's Responsibility. Period.
Sometimes people just don't realize that some commonly used substances are toxic and just need to be told so that they can then be responsible. I don't see anything wrong with informing people of things that can harm them or their loved ones!
I suspect the first commentor assumes that the citronella oil belonged to the park facilities. But that isn't specified.
Adults need to personally investigate the safety of every new substance they, or their young children ingest. It is not up to the park or the government to watch out for this. If you don't know it is safe, assume that it isn't until you learn otherwise. It is really simple.
Really, I'm sure the park allows campfires. There is nothing more dangerous than a fire, as that will easily kill you. But we don't see people trying to ban campfires or requiring signs about the danger of campfires. There is an element of common sense that must be utilized. Don't step into a fire. Don't drink unknown substances. And protect your children from the same.
Someone has to be the responsible adult in the room and unfortunately society is forcing (or asking) government to do it more and more due to the fact adults are less and less adults and more and more irresponsible 40 year old teenagers. If you are going to be an adult or even moreso a parent, then act like it and grow up and be a responsible example.
My 18 month old Grandson had 2 parents watching him while setting up camp but is extremely agile and quick, as soon as dad emptied the first bottle he turned around and set it down on the smoker about 2 foot off the ground as my daughter went for the second bottle to hand my SIL, my grandson got to it and put it to his mouth and got a drink before they could get to him..anyone on here knows it can happen that quick and Does! It's certainly not always "parents not being responsible" Children look at all colored bottles as a potential drink, all things are colored these days. They go for it immediately. My Grandson was on the vent for over 3 days before they stared warning him off, only my daughter and or my SIL could be in bc of covid restrictions. All we could do was pray, which we did..he goes back for a check up x-ray in a few weeks to make sure the aspiration pneumonia he developed from the forein substance in his lungs is completely gone. I'm so very sorry to the parents who have lost their child. Let's say a prayer for All!