Ellen Campbell -Grizzle - PHARMACY TODAY DELICIOUS-TASTING vitamins and iron supplements, pretty plants, smooth and scented creams and lotions, pleasant smelling household cleaners and rat pellets have proved attractive to the young palate with lethal consequences.
Several consumers have been lulled into thinking that a medicine is completely safe once it is advised or sold in a reputable place. Some people believe that "natural" products are entirely safe. But all such products can be dangerous. Some substances are poisonous in small doses while others become toxic in large amounts. Your pharmacist's instructions about dose and storage must be followed as these are based on the acceptable and safe limits for the use of your medicines.
Many countries observe Poison Prevention Week in the months of September or October each year. This is an important activity that highlights poisoning as a serious problem that is preventable. World-wide, cough and cold preparations, vitamin and iron supplements plants, household cleaning fluids, lead, rat poison and other pesticides are the leading causes of poisoning among children.
Accidental poisoning affects primarily young children and most mishaps occur when children are not supervised and just before lunch or dinner when they are hungry. Adults also need to be very careful. You can take the wrong dose if you are in the dark, sleepy or your hands are shaking. Pregnant or breastfeeding women must be especially cautious as some medicines can pass from mother to foetus or from mother to child through breastfeeding.
Poisons can enter the body by inhalation, absorption through the skin and swallowing. You can protect your family by storing medicines and household cleaning fluids in separate, locked cupboards away from food. Keep them in original containers and do not store in food or beverage containers. Know the names of your houseplants and identify them in case your child eats a leaf or rubs the plant on the skin. Keep houseplants away from the reach of young children and teach them never to put these plants in their mouth or on their skin.
Please observe the following safety tips:-
Check the name, dose and expiry date on every label before use
Never share medicines
Take your time when giving medicines to your child. Children tend to gag when they are rushed.
If you should spill some of the dose, do not give an extra spoonful as this may lead to an overdose.
Never call medicines candy or "sweetie". Your child may believe you and indulge.
Children mimic adults and you should avoid taking medication before children or giving one child medication in front of another.
If your child has swallowed kerosene, do not induce vomiting. Take the child to the hospital immediately.
The toxic effects of some drugs can be delayed. With paracetamol, an ingredient in many over-the-counter preparations, overdose symptoms in the first 12-24 hours are mild and may cause a false sense of security. However, between 24-48 hours, serious side effects emerge. When paracetamol overdose is suspected, medical care must be sought immediately.
Preventing poisoning saves lives and money. Making medicines, plants and household chemicals inaccessible to young children is an important first step. Properly dispose of these chemicals when they are old, outdated or unlabelled. In case of suspected poisoning, call your healthcare provider or hospital for assistance. Give fluids or flush the skin with water as first aid. Remember to help to prevent accidental poisoning, take your medicine as directed and store in a safe place. Ask your pharmacist, you have the right to know!
Ellen Campbell Grizzle, President, Caribbean Association of Pharmacists (CAP) and Director, Information & Research, National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), Kingston, Jamaica.
