Latest news with #VicksVapoRub
The Age
15-07-2025
- Health
- The Age
The pungent potion that's become a pre-match ritual in the NRL
Under the bright lights of the rival sheds in the moments before Queensland's win in last week's Origin decider, players gathered before cloth-covered bowls. They waited to step forward, bow their heads and inhale the curiously potent perfume that lay inside. The ceremony aired on Wednesday, leaving spectators to wonder what kind of pre-match communion they had borne witness to and to ask what exactly the players were inhaling beneath Accor Stadium. Queensland team doctor Matthew Hislop dispelled rumours about what was inside his team's bowl, declaring instead that the elixir was 'nothing sinister'. Instead, players were inhaling a simple combination of boiling water and eucalyptus oil, an aid to clearing the sinuses. 'It's pretty pungent,' Hislop said, explaining why some players withdraw their heads back or sneeze after sniffing the potion. 'Some of them, you know, breathe in a little harder than they should have, and you can gag a bit.' Although he couldn't speak on behalf of the NSW camp, Hislop said he wasn't aware of teams still using a more disputed aid known as smelling salts – the common name for a combination of ammonia carbonate that is also sometimes paired with eucalyptus oil. Sniffing ammonia carbonate is an old-fashioned method of waking someone after they've fainted, and a frowned-upon practice in the treatment of concussions in professional sports. The NFL banned the treatment, as did the NRL chief medical officer, Ron Muratore, in 2013. It's still prohibited for treating concussions under the NSW Rugby League's concussion policy. Luke Bowen, a senior exercise physiologist, said that although smelling salts have been outlawed under concussion protocols, it's still a common ritual in rugby league. 'I don't think they're prohibited, but yes, they are widely used in rugby league,' Bowen said, before adding that some clubs also used Vicks VapoRub just as often.
Sydney Morning Herald
15-07-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
The pungent potion that's become a pre-match ritual in the NRL
Under the bright lights of the rival sheds in the moments before Queensland's win in last week's Origin decider, players gathered before cloth-covered bowls. They waited to step forward, bow their heads and inhale the curiously potent perfume that lay inside. The ceremony aired on Wednesday, leaving spectators to wonder what kind of pre-match communion they had borne witness to and to ask what exactly the players were inhaling beneath Accor Stadium. Queensland team doctor Matthew Hislop dispelled rumours about what was inside his team's bowl, declaring instead that the elixir was 'nothing sinister'. Instead, players were inhaling a simple combination of boiling water and eucalyptus oil, an aid to clearing the sinuses. 'It's pretty pungent,' Hislop said, explaining why some players withdraw their heads back or sneeze after sniffing the potion. 'Some of them, you know, breathe in a little harder than they should have, and you can gag a bit.' Although he couldn't speak on behalf of the NSW camp, Hislop said he wasn't aware of teams still using a more disputed aid known as smelling salts – the common name for a combination of ammonia carbonate that is also sometimes paired with eucalyptus oil. Sniffing ammonia carbonate is an old-fashioned method of waking someone after they've fainted, and a frowned-upon practice in the treatment of concussions in professional sports. The NFL banned the treatment, as did the NRL chief medical officer, Ron Muratore, in 2013. It's still prohibited for treating concussions under the NSW Rugby League's concussion policy. Luke Bowen, a senior exercise physiologist, said that although smelling salts have been outlawed under concussion protocols, it's still a common ritual in rugby league. 'I don't think they're prohibited, but yes, they are widely used in rugby league,' Bowen said, before adding that some clubs also used Vicks VapoRub just as often.
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Mum's horror as baby nearly dies after tiny amount of common cold treatment
Carly Lloyd was left horrified after her 11-month-old daughter Poppy "barely touched the inside" of Vicks VapoRub before she went "rigid like a plank" as her head "swung from side to side" An 11-month-old baby's eyes "rolled back into her head" during a "violent seizure" after accidentally swallowing the tiniest amount of a "toxic" common cold treatment. Mum Carly Lloyd, 38, from Sidcup, was left horrified after her daughter Poppy "barely touched the inside" of Vicks VapoRub, prompting her to "go rigid like a plank" as her head "swung from side to side." The terrifying incident occurred on May 3 when Poppy grabbed the ointment while her mum changed her nappy. Carly quickly noticed her daughter had ingested the smallest amount of Vicks VapoRub and rushed to remove the ointment from her. She immediately wiped her mouth. Carly told The Mirror: "We took hold of her arm, then wiped inside her mouth using a cloth to remove as much as possible and cleaned her hand. We luckily Googled and saw warnings from others on the internet to call 999 immediately." However, within 15 minutes, Poppy started to vomit, prompting Carly to call 111. She was assured that, as she consumed only a tiny amount and no other symptoms were showing, she wouldn't need urgent treatment. Two hours later, Poppy's condition worsened after she was "nodding violently" and "swinging her head from side to side." Carly, who quickly called for an ambulance, was told by paramedics she did "the right thing" by giving her daughter milk, which would have "lined her stomach, throat, and mouth." The youngster "could have died" if they hadn't seen her ingest the ointment and quickly reacted, according to the paramedics. "If we hadn't seen her grab the Vicks, she would have died. The ambulance lady came straight in and told us 'this could kill her'", Carly revealed. She added: "We really thought it was attacking her brain. It was as though it was causing some brain damage that was getting worse and worse. She was initially doing the violent nods, then her arm went as though she had had a stroke and, her head kept shooting to the side. Soon she was going completely rigged and eyes rolling." Carly admitted she "had no idea" how toxic the ointment was and has promised never to have it in her home following the traumatic ordeal. Vicks VapoRub can be bought over the counter and treats a wide range of common issues, including sore throats, coughs, nasal catarrh, muscle aches, and pains. The packaging states that it can be toxic for children if swallowed in small doses, as it contains camphor. The warning label also warns that VapoRub should be kept out of children's reach. A spokesman for the manufacturers, American-based Procter and Gamble, said: "We were really sorry to hear about this unfortunate accident and acknowledge the distress it must have caused the family. The safety and well-being of those who use our products is our utmost priority. We'd like to provide reassurance that our products are safe when used as intended. "Our packaging clearly states that this product should be kept out of the reach of children, should not be used on children under the age of two and provides helpful guidance on what to do if the product is accidentally ingested." The mum wanted to spread awareness on social media and inform fellow parents of the product's potential dangers for babies. Fortunately, Poppy is on the mend and has no further symptoms. Carly took to social media to warn others of her ordeal, with many unaware of how harmful the common cold ointment could be for children. She added: "Parents online and friends couldn't believe how dangerous this product is, and say they never knew. So many thanked me for highlighting it. Please keep it in a cupboard high up, and if you have children a little older, tell them it's very dangerous to put things in your mouth."
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sidcup mum's horror as baby falls critically ill after swallowing Vicks VapoRub
A Sidcup mum has spoken of her horror after her 11-month-old daughter fell critically ill moments after accidentally ingesting a tiny amount of Vicks VapoRub. On Saturday, May 3, Carly Lloyd's baby, Poppy, managed to grab an open pot of the popular menthol ointment from her mum's handbag. In the blink of an eye, she touched her mouth with a finger that had barely skimmed the inside of the pot - but it was enough to trigger a terrifying chain of events. 'She was shaking her head and really confused, literally just staring at us and staring at the ceiling,' Carly told the News Shopper. 'Her body started going stiff, then her eyes just rolled up towards the air, and all of a sudden, she'd come out of that and then scream. 'But she went literally stiff as a pan in my husband's arms.' Baby Poppy (Image: Carly Lloyd) Vicks VapoRub is commonly used to relieve coughs and congestion, but contains camphor - a substance that, in even small quantities, can be highly toxic to children. A few teaspoons of camphor can be fatal to a toddler. Carly said she immediately pulled Poppy's hand from her mouth and wiped around her lips with a muslin. 'I'm trying to raise awareness around this because there's nothing on the pot that tells you,' she said. A spokesperson for P&G, owners of Vicks VapoRub, said the packaging 'clearly states' that the product should be kept out of the reach of children, and should not be used on children under the age of two. The spokesperson added: 'We'd like to provide reassurance that our products are safe when used as intended.' After initially appearing fine, Poppy became violently ill within two hours. Carly (front right) and the Lloyd family. (Image: Carly Lloyd) Carly said she called 999 and was advised by paramedics to monitor her daughter closely since the amount ingested was so small. But things escalated quickly. Carly added: 'She started screaming and vomiting. 'Then she just went rigid and limp. 'I was obviously very, very upset. 'The paramedic said this stuff could kill her, but she wasn't going to die.' Poppy was taken to Princess Royal University Hospital. (Image: Carly Lloyd) An ambulance took the family to Princess Royal University Hospital where doctors monitored Poppy until she was discharged later that evening at 10.30pm. While Poppy appeared back to normal that night, Carly said the nightmare wasn't over. She explained: 'The next morning she was acting strange again – screaming, grabbing her head with both hands. 'If it had been the tiniest bit more she could have died.' 'I was petrified. 'I thought it was killing her brain and giving her brain damage. I thought it was attacking her brain and there would be no coming back from it.' The mum-of-four is now urging other parents to be aware of the risks and says warning labels on products like Vicks VapoRub should be clearer about the dangers of ingestion in young children. A P&G spokesperson said: 'We were really sorry to hear about this unfortunate accident and acknowledge the distress it must have caused the family. 'The safety and well-being of those who use our products is our utmost priority. 'We'd like to provide reassurance that our products are safe when used as intended. 'Our packaging clearly states that this product should be kept out of the reach of children, should not be used on children under the age of two and provides helpful guidance on what to do if the product is accidentally ingested."
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Philadelphia man accused of trafficking deadly carfentanil into Westmoreland County
A Philadelphia man was arrested after he was accused of trafficking drugs into our area including carfentanil, a drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl. The Wesmotrlenad County District Attorney's Office said Brendaon Fuentes, 23, was arrested in Latrobe on Monday after investigators were told that a person was traveling to Latrobe on an Amtrak train to sell heroin and cocaine. Authorities waited at the Latrobe train station around 8 p.m. for the train to arrive from Philadelphia. Once the train arrived, police said they saw Fuentes get off the train carrying two plastic bags and then appeared to have been waiting for a ride. Police said Fuentes then got into a pickup truck parked in a nearby parking lot. Investigators then pulled the vehicle over and saw drug paraphernalia in plain view. The plastic bags Fuentes was seen carrying were removed from the truck, and a police K-9 detected narcotics inside them. A search warrant was then executed, with approximately 1.05 ounces of carfentanil and one ounce of crack cocaine found within the bags, according to authorities. The drugs were wrapped in plastic shrink wrap, along with numerous bars of soap, and covered with Vicks VapoRub in an attempt to conceal the odor from the K-9. 'Carfentanil is 100 times stronger than fentanyl; a granule-size of this narcotic – similar to a granule of sand – is powerful enough to kill someone,' Westmoreland County District Attorney Ziccarelli said. 'By intercepting these lethal drugs, many lives will be saved. I am incredibly thankful for the intensive interdiction work displayed by our law enforcement officers.' Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
