Horror as 11-month-old baby & girl, 3, are rushed to hospital after suffering seizures – with mum blaming insecticide
AN 11-month-baby and a girl aged three have been rushed to hospital after suffering seizures – with their mum blaming insecticide.
Little Shiloh and his sister Saffire fell into comas at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, where they were taken by ambulance.
The youngsters’ mum Amber Jaulim said they were struck down after moving back into their council-provided flat.
They had moved out of the flat while pest controllers sprayed chemicals to treat it for fleas.
Amber, 25, found Shiloh and Saffire vomiting, coughing and collapsed on the floor.
She told MyLondon: “I could not understand what was happening. I picked up my daughter and she was so floppy.
“I thought my son had actually died already. His eyes were just so wide.
“He was so floppy and he just was not blinking. He was just cold – it was just a complete shock.”
Amber added: “By four o’clock in the morning both my kids were nearly dead.”
Redbridge Council had moved the east London family into temporary housing in a tower block on the other side of the capital in Slough.
The family moved out of the flat for 32 hours after pest controllers treated it on April 25.
Amber said she had followed aftercare rules and claimed she was told it would be safe to return just six hours after the treatment.
She called at ambulance at 4am on April 27 after Shiloh and Saffire started suffering seizures.
The terrified mum had to go down four floors to let the paramedics in.
Shiloh and Saffire were transferred to intensive care at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
Both youngsters had to be resuscitated, with Shiloh suffering more seizures while in a coma.
The two children recovered after several days in hospital but have been affected emotionally, Amber said.
She said doctors told her it was “likely” the pesticide had made her kids ill.
‘COMPLETE SHOCK’
S&I Pest Control said the company was “fully licensed” to use pesticides.
A spokesperson added: “In 12 years of experience in pest and vermin services we’ve had no claims, investigations or complaints.
“On that particular flat, there were two treatments carried out beforehand using the same formula, with no incidents.
“There is an aftercare protocol which needs to be followed by any client after any pest control service and needs to be adhered to.
“We have done our best to reduce to a minimum all potential risks, and secondary effects of pest control which we are licensed for.
'Forever chemicals' linked to cancer
TOXIC chemicals have been discovered in half of the fruit and veg from UK supermarkets, according to analysis of Government figures.
The human-made substances, called PFAS, are known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they may never leave the body once consumed.
These are linked to a handful of serious health issues, including liver damage, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues and cancer.
It is even feared the chemicals could lead to low birth weight, developmental delays and behavioural changes in infants and children.
Strawberries were found to be the worst offenders, containing the highest levels of these PFAS, with 95 per cent of the samples analysed being contaminated.
This was followed by 61 per cent of grape samples tested, 56 per cent of cherry samples, 42 per cent of spinach samples and 38 per cent of tomatoes.
Peaches, cucumbers, apricots and beans all saw at least 15 per cent of samples containing PFAS.
PFAS – or polyfluoroalkyl substances – are chemicals prized for their indestructible and non-stick properties.
They are used in household products such as non-stick frying pans, clothing, cosmetics, food packaging and fire extinguisher foam.
The chemicals are also in pesticides, which are assumed to be the primary source of them in fruits and vegetables.
The shocking findings came when the government’s testing programme checked 3,300 samples of food and drink available in the UK
The Pesticide Action Network UK (Pan UK) analysed the results and revealed that 56.4 per cent of samples tested contained pesticides.#
However, only 1.8 per cent contained a pesticide residue above this legal level.
The UK’s Health and Safety Executive found that even when a food breaches the legal limit, it “rarely finds a likely risk to the health of the people who have eaten the food”.
“We have always explained in detail and explained the correct aftercare procedure.
“We don’t want incidents to happen again, as our main concern is the welfare and safety of our clients and especially children.
“This is an ongoing investigation as to what actually happened and if the aftercare procedure was followed.”
Redbridge Council said: “The building was emptied ahead of fumigation, with residents requested to vacate for 24 hours.”
A spokesperson added: “We understand that a family living in the building was hospitalised.
“However, the hospital has confirmed their illness was not linked to fumigation.
“Welfare checks have been completed by the police, who have confirmed no grounds for concern.
“The council will continue to try to make contact with the family to offer support.”
