Poisoning
Most accidental poisonings involving youngsters occur in children under age five; there were more than 1.1 million poisonings in children this age every year in the nineties, and about 30 of them died. Nevertheless, these figures represent a significant decrease over the past few decades, in large part because of laws passed in 1970 requiring child-resistant packaging. Still, poisoning remains a significant problem in this country, and parents and caregivers need to do more than rely on child resistant packaging. Parents need to keep medicines and chemicals locked up. Special packaging is child-resistant, not childproof. To be legally designated as “child-resistant,” a product must take more than five minutes for 80 percent of five year olds to open. This means that 20 percent of these youngsters could get into it in less time.
For poison emergency care, the government established a national emergency number in February 2002 so that anyone in the country can call for a poison problem. The emergency hotline links callers anywhere in the country to medical experts at local centers, and it has received nearly one million calls in its first year.
To prevent poisonings, parents and caregivers should:
• keep all chemicals and medicines locked up and out of sight
• never let young children out of sight when toxic products are being used
• avoid taking medicine in front of children
• refer to medicine as “medicine,” not “candy”
• keep items in original containers with their original labels and close child-resistant packaging securely after each use
• keep lamps and candles that contain lamp oil away from children, because these products can be very toxic if ingested
• always leave the light on when giving medicine; read the label before using and check the dosage every time
• clean out the medicine cabinet periodically and dispose of unneeded and outdated drugs
• keep a bottle of ipecac syrup on hand for use only if the poison center authorizes its administration
Substances most often swallowed by children under age five, as reported by Poison Control Centers, include:
1. plants
2. soaps, detergents, cleaners
3. perfume, cologne, toilet water
4. antihistamines, cold medications
5. vitamins and minerals
6. aspirin
7. household disinfectants or deodorizers
8. insecticides
9. miscellaneous painkillers
10. fingernail preparations
All hazardous items should be kept in cupboards or shelves out of a child’s reach, or in locked drawers or cabinets. Common potentially dangerous products found in almost every home include the following:
Cleaning Products
chlorine bleach, ammonia, and detergents
toilet bowl cleaners
drain cleaners
furniture polish
floor polish and wax
Household Goods
nail polish and remover
shoe polish
rubbing alcohol
hair dye
hair spray
Medications
aspirin
acetaminophen
prescription medications
cough medicine
cold preparations
Garden Products
roach powders or baits
rat pellets
rose dust
weed killers
flower, garden, and shrub sprays
lime
treated seeds
Garage Products
antifreeze
kerosene or gasoline
paint thinners and strippers
If Poisoning Is Suspected
The most important thing to remember in a poisoning case is not to make the problem any worse. Prompt treatment is vital, and minutes can spell the difference between life and death. First aid is most effective if the parent can identify the drug or chemical that caused the poisoning.
1. Parents should call the national poison emergency hotline (800) 222-1222 that will link callers anywhere in the country to medical experts at local centers. Alternatively, the 911 operator can also help.
2. When poison control is reached, callers should provide the following information:
a. Caller’s name
b. Child’s name, age, and weight
c. Kind of poison involved (name, ingredients, or kind of plant or creature)
d. How much was swallowed, and when it was swallowed
e. Child’s symptoms
f. Other medical problems (diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, and so on)
g. What drugs the child takes regularly
h. Whether child has vomited
i. What child has been given to eat or drink
j. How long it will take you to get to the nearest emergency room
What Poison Control Will Do
The person at poison control will tell the caller whether or not to induce vomiting (certain poisons, such as acids or alkalies, should never be vomited). If the caller does not know what the child has swallowed, vomiting should not be induced.
Poison control may recommend activated charcoal, Epsom salts, or a specific product to neutralize the poison. Callers should always follow instructions given by a poison control center and NOT trust antidote information given on product labels. Callers should not use mustard or salt to induce vomiting, because these old-fashioned remedies do not work well. A child should never be forced to vomit by sticking fingers down the throat; this is especially dangerous for young children. First aid procedures differ according to the kind of poison involved and how it entered the child’s body, the child’s weight, how long the poison has been working, and other factors. Only medical personnel can determine the correct procedures. Treating the child without expert advice could cause further harm.
Once the Child Vomits
If possible, the child should vomit into a bucket or the sink, so some of the vomited material can be brought to the hospital to help the doctor identify the poison.
To make sure the child does not inhale the vomited material, the parent should hold small children face down over the knees; a larger child should bend over or lie down with head hanging off the bed. If the poison has spilled onto clothing, skin, or eyes, the clothing should be removed and skin or eyes flushed with water.
If the child stops breathing, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be performed. Shock should be treated by keeping the child quiet and lying down, with head tilted to one side. Clothing should be loosened and child covered with a blanket; no beverages or sedatives should be given.
For poison emergency care, the government established a national emergency number in February 2002 so that anyone in the country can call for a poison problem. The emergency hotline links callers anywhere in the country to medical experts at local centers, and it has received nearly one million calls in its first year.
To prevent poisonings, parents and caregivers should:
• keep all chemicals and medicines locked up and out of sight
• never let young children out of sight when toxic products are being used
• avoid taking medicine in front of children
• refer to medicine as “medicine,” not “candy”
• keep items in original containers with their original labels and close child-resistant packaging securely after each use
• keep lamps and candles that contain lamp oil away from children, because these products can be very toxic if ingested
• always leave the light on when giving medicine; read the label before using and check the dosage every time
• clean out the medicine cabinet periodically and dispose of unneeded and outdated drugs
• keep a bottle of ipecac syrup on hand for use only if the poison center authorizes its administration
Substances most often swallowed by children under age five, as reported by Poison Control Centers, include:
1. plants
2. soaps, detergents, cleaners
3. perfume, cologne, toilet water
4. antihistamines, cold medications
5. vitamins and minerals
6. aspirin
7. household disinfectants or deodorizers
8. insecticides
9. miscellaneous painkillers
10. fingernail preparations
All hazardous items should be kept in cupboards or shelves out of a child’s reach, or in locked drawers or cabinets. Common potentially dangerous products found in almost every home include the following:
Cleaning Products
chlorine bleach, ammonia, and detergents
toilet bowl cleaners
drain cleaners
furniture polish
floor polish and wax
Household Goods
nail polish and remover
shoe polish
rubbing alcohol
hair dye
hair spray
Medications
aspirin
acetaminophen
prescription medications
cough medicine
cold preparations
Garden Products
roach powders or baits
rat pellets
rose dust
weed killers
flower, garden, and shrub sprays
lime
treated seeds
Garage Products
antifreeze
kerosene or gasoline
paint thinners and strippers
If Poisoning Is Suspected
The most important thing to remember in a poisoning case is not to make the problem any worse. Prompt treatment is vital, and minutes can spell the difference between life and death. First aid is most effective if the parent can identify the drug or chemical that caused the poisoning.
1. Parents should call the national poison emergency hotline (800) 222-1222 that will link callers anywhere in the country to medical experts at local centers. Alternatively, the 911 operator can also help.
2. When poison control is reached, callers should provide the following information:
a. Caller’s name
b. Child’s name, age, and weight
c. Kind of poison involved (name, ingredients, or kind of plant or creature)
d. How much was swallowed, and when it was swallowed
e. Child’s symptoms
f. Other medical problems (diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, and so on)
g. What drugs the child takes regularly
h. Whether child has vomited
i. What child has been given to eat or drink
j. How long it will take you to get to the nearest emergency room
What Poison Control Will Do
The person at poison control will tell the caller whether or not to induce vomiting (certain poisons, such as acids or alkalies, should never be vomited). If the caller does not know what the child has swallowed, vomiting should not be induced.
Poison control may recommend activated charcoal, Epsom salts, or a specific product to neutralize the poison. Callers should always follow instructions given by a poison control center and NOT trust antidote information given on product labels. Callers should not use mustard or salt to induce vomiting, because these old-fashioned remedies do not work well. A child should never be forced to vomit by sticking fingers down the throat; this is especially dangerous for young children. First aid procedures differ according to the kind of poison involved and how it entered the child’s body, the child’s weight, how long the poison has been working, and other factors. Only medical personnel can determine the correct procedures. Treating the child without expert advice could cause further harm.
Once the Child Vomits
If possible, the child should vomit into a bucket or the sink, so some of the vomited material can be brought to the hospital to help the doctor identify the poison.
To make sure the child does not inhale the vomited material, the parent should hold small children face down over the knees; a larger child should bend over or lie down with head hanging off the bed. If the poison has spilled onto clothing, skin, or eyes, the clothing should be removed and skin or eyes flushed with water.
If the child stops breathing, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be performed. Shock should be treated by keeping the child quiet and lying down, with head tilted to one side. Clothing should be loosened and child covered with a blanket; no beverages or sedatives should be given.
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