Plastic Bags Are Dangerous Around Young Children

The death of an infant who suffocated on a plastic bag over the weekend has increased awareness about how dangerous plastic can be around young children. Police believe a 4-month-old boy died Saturday in a Lincoln home when he suffocated on a plastic bag in his crib. Things like choking, suffocation and strangulation are the leading causes of death among infants under age of 1. That's a concern for parents like Brent Filipi. He says after hearing the story of the child that died from a plastic bag, he and his family made several changes about the way they handle plastic in their home. Garment bags, grocery and retail bags and the bags your newspaper comes in are all examples of plastic that could be a hazard. That's because they keep children from pulling their face away from the bag, covering the child's nose and causing suffocation. Experts say adults in a household should make sure that these bags are disposed of properly, or placed in places that kids can't reach.  It's estimated that about 60 percent of infant suffocation happens in the sleeping environment.