4-Year-Old Hospitalized, ‘Completely Unconscious’ 10 Minutes After Drinking Toxic Slushy: ‘Poison’

A recent study found that several children were hospitalized after drinking slush ice drinks containing glycerol. Now, one mom is detailing her daughter’s hospitalization just minutes after consuming the popular drink to send a warning to other parents.

In 2020, Kim Moore — from Lancashire, England — took her daughters Marnie, 4, and Orla, 6, to a children’s party, where she bought them refillable slushies. After 10 minutes, her youngest daughter fell unconscious.

The 35-year-old told Kennedy News and Media via the Daily Mail that Marnie was “pale and unresponsive.”

“We ended up buying two one-litre refillable cups and they were going off playing, eating, getting drinks and coming back but Marnie didn’t drink the full cup, probably only half,” she recalled. “Then about 10 minutes later, she started getting really aggravated then she started falling asleep so I just thought she was over-tired.”

“It was only five minutes later when I tried to wake her up that I realised she wasn’t waking up and was actually unconscious,” she told the outlet.

Moore tried to shake the toddler awake but with no luck, rushed her to the hospital.

“I think it was mum’s instinct that I knew something wasn’t right,” she told the outlet. “She was floppy and completely unconscious.”

After arriving at the hospital, doctors discovered that Marnie’s blood sugar levels were dangerously low, and transferred her to another hospital, where she remained for three days.

“I had no clue what had caused it. She was unconscious for around 25 minutes while they brought her blood sugars up,” Moore said. “In hospital, she screamed out in agony saying her head hurt and threw up everywhere.”

Moore was later told that her 4-year-old was suffering from glycerol toxicity as a result of consuming the slush ice drink, which contained the sweetener glycerol. Many slushies contain glycerol because it gives the drink its “slushy” texture.

Symptoms of glycerol toxicity include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, confusion, decreased consciousness, low blood sugar levels and low levels of potassium in the blood.

“Looking back, she had every single symptom of glycerol toxicity,” Moore admitted. “I was in absolute fear. If I hadn’t taken her to hospital, it may have had a different outcome.”

Moore said her daughter was able to recover after three days in the hospital. She is now sending a warning to other parents, urging them to not allow their young children to consume the slush ice drinks.

“So many places promote free slushies when you play there but you’re promoting poison,” she told the outlet. “I don’t think these slushies should be allowed at all. I personally wouldn’t allow my child to drink one at all. It’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”

“I don’t think they should be sold to kids 12 and under in all honesty,” she said. “I wouldn’t wish what we went through on our worst enemy. It was awful.”

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