Development of a child-resistant spray-bottle for household cleaning products

Objective: Existing spray-bottles for household cleaning products are not child-resistant. McKenzie et al. previously reported an estimated 267,269 children <6 years of age, were treated in US emergency departments for household cleaning product-related over 17 years; 40.1% from spray-bottles. We aimed to develop a child-resistant spray-bottle to reduce household cleaning product-related injuries to young children.

Methods/Approach: We partnered with engineer and design experts to investigate how children and parents use, operate, and store spray-bottles by conducting home observations with 25 families and videotaping parents and children, <6 years of age, attempting to operate spray-bottles. Information collected yielded multiple concept designs, three-dimensional models, and Computer Aided Design models for the development of a two-stage trigger mechanism for a child-resistant spray-bottle. The final prototype was tested with children from 11 families.

Results: In the home, spray-bottles accounted for 36% of all cleaning product containers and 75% of the nozzles on the spray-bottles were unlocked. When asked to operate the spray-bottles, children could activate the trigger and often pointed the nozzle toward their face. Observations led to the prototype development of a two-stage trigger mechanism that automatically reverts to the locked position when not in use. Most children observed using the spray-bottle prototype were not able to operate the spray-bottle prototype in the time allotted.

Conclusions: Spray-bottles are found in virtually every home and are a common source of household cleaning product-related injuries to young children. This system has the potential to reduce a common source of child poisoning from household cleaning products.