The National Poison Data System saw a 79% increase in calls about people — most of them under the age of 5 — consuming hand sanitizer last month compared to March 2019, Fox Business reports.
This increase comes as families are now at home more often, and parents are using disinfectant products at an increased rate while trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to CNN.
To help combat the uptick in hand sanitizer consumption, the Food and Drug Administration is now asking companies to add additional ingredients to their products to make them bitter and unpalatable, according to Newsweek.
The FDA is also issuing statements to ensure people avoid using disinfectants as impromptu COVID-19 treatments. On April 23, President Donald Trump made remarks suggesting disinfectants be looked into as a possible treatment for the novel coronavirus, according to The Hill. Within 18 hours of those remarks, nine people called poison control after ingesting Lysol, and 10 called after ingesting bleach.
“Hand sanitizers are not proven to treat COVID-19, and like other products meant for external use, are not for ingestion, inhalation, or intravenous use,” FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement.