Urgent warning for parents over Prime drink after STOMACH PUMPING incident
AN urgent warning has been issued to parents over Prime after a child was forced to have their stomach pumped.
The energy drink, which has seen Brits queue for hours to get their hands on a bottle, has been popular amongst youngsters since it was released.
This saw doctors urge families not to give it to children.
Now a Wales primary school is warning parents to take care after they say one of their students had a cardiac episode.
The youngster was said to have drank a Prime energy drink – which contains 200mg of caffeine – before being raced to hospital over the weekend.
Newport’s Milton Primary School sent a text message to parents which said: “This morning a parent has reported that their child has had a cardiac episode over the weekend after drinking a Prime energy drink.
“The child had to have their stomach pumped and although better now the parent wanted us to share this as a reminder of the potential harmful effects.”
A bottle of Prime, which comes in five different flavours, retails for £1.99 but due to the demand some outlets are selling it at vastly inflated prices.
Prime energy contains an enormous 200mg of caffeine, compared to a can of Monster Energy which has 86.4mg.
Just weeks ago Dr Deborah Lee warned of the caffine levels of the drink, which is backed by YouTube influencers KSI and Logan Paul.
The medical expert, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, told The Mirror: “I would not recommend children drink Prime energy drinks or other energy drinks for children of any age.
“Children don’t need energy drinks anyway – they have plenty of energy.
“If your child is lacking in energy take them to see their GP, do not give them an energy drink.
“It encourages them to want sweet drinks, when plain water is the answer and helps them develop a sweet tooth which is not good for the future in terms of a healthy diet and controlling their weight.”
Dr Lee explained there are a number of reasons why young kids shouldn’t have caffeine, not least because it can become addictive.
She said: “Children are actively growing, and their brain, nervous system and heart function and development are crucial for their future health.
“Caffeine acts at all these sites and it would be unwise to recommend any substances which could have any deleterious effect.”