While plastic bags may be an incredibly useful resource to us, they can spell disaster if our children get hold of them. Unfortunately, babies and toddlers die each year from suffocation due to plastic bags, and it’s up to us as businesses to help prevent it. It’s for this reason that many suppliers are beginning to use poly bags with suffocation warnings to keep their customers aware of the dangers. So if you’re trying to promote safety around your product packaging, these are some suffocation warning package requirements that you should be aware of.
Regulations by State
When using suffocation warning bags to package your products, it’s important to remember that there are no national laws regarding this issue. However, this just means that you’ll need to check your local state regulations to ensure you’re abiding by the proper requirements. Though there is no federal law set in place, certain states like California, Massachusetts, and New York have all created guidelines of their own for you to follow. Be aware that these expectations are different depending on what state you’re in, and it’s important that you abide by them if you want to avoid fees and liability.
The Type of Bags Regulated
While the regulations can vary by state, they all generally apply to the same types of bags—poly bags with a thickness less than one millionth of an inch. This is because the thinner the plastic material is, the higher chance there is of it flexing to block a person’s airways. Thicker plastic materials, though also dangerous, don’t form as airtight of a seal when around the nose or mouth areas. So most of the official regulations only deal with bag models that are incredibly thin. Still, it’s important to note that many suppliers choose to play it safe by providing a warning on all of their packaging bags regardless of their dimensions or thickness.
What the Warning Should Include
Our last suffocation warning packaging requirement involves the wording of the warning itself. Whether it’s printed directly on the bag or applied as a label, your suffocation warning should be legible, identifiable, and clearly worded to have the most effect. The text should mention that the plastic poses a suffocation risk and that it should be kept away from babies and children. It’s also important to articulate that the bag should be kept out of places where young kids spend the most time—such as cribs, beds, strollers, or playpens. In addition to this, you also need to be sure that the size of your warning is proportionate to the size of the bag to increase the chances that the customer will see it. For instance, if the bag is measured at 60 inches or more, your warning should be written in size 24 font for optimal noticeability.