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Galway Advertiser 1999/1999_09_09/GA_09091999_E1_012.pdf
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KILLERS IN THE JCITCHE
A T R A G I C c a s e o f a c c i d e n t a l p o i s o n i n g , i n v o l v i n g t h e d e a t h of a n 1 1 - m o n t h - o l d E n g l i s h b a b y g i r l , hit t h e | h e a d l i n e s l a s t y e a r , f o c u s i n g t h e s p o t l i g h t o n d a n g e r s in t h e h o m e .
you can make medicines safer by asking for a child! The child found a plastic bottle containing a small resistant container. These stop or slow down children's! amount of white spirits under a kitchen sink and managed attempts to open medicine bottles.' to get the top off and take a drink. Her mother immediately Dr Michael Coughlan, the former chairperson of the! raised the alarm and the baby was rushed to a nearby hospi Irish College of General Practitioners and a city basedl tal. However, she died three hours later from respiratory GP, says accidental poisoning is always a potential prob-r failure. lem. Every year about 3,000 toddlers accidentally poison "This has always been the case. I tell anybody who is themselves in Ireland. Most are in the one to three-year-old on long term medication to keep their tablets on a high age group. There were 12 such deaths recorded here shelf. You find many people, especially those who don't between 1992 and 1995. have children in the house, leave medicines on dressing About 200 children are treated at Galway's University tables or on lockers beside their beds. College Hospital each year for accidental poisoning, says "It is easy to become complacent, particularly if youl hospital consultant Mr Anthony Martin. The weekends are don't have small children. But it is important to make al the busiest times, he says, because parents often have a lie routine of putting away tablets and other dangerous sub-f in and the children begin to explore. stances out of children's reach." "We find the problem comes in waves. We can get three |children in one day." TIPS TO PREVENT YOUR CHILD FROM Many children overdose on Calpol, the pain reliever. BEING POISONED ACCIDENTALLY which can result in liver damage but others are more adven * Ask your pharmacist to put your medicines into al turous. child resistant container - if they do not already come in al "A new phenomenon is that children are beginning to blister pack eat the new Ariel tablets. They think they are sweets. They often take tablets people do not consider to be dangerous * Children are far superior at opening child-proof bottles than adults are, says hospital * Keep all medicines out of reach. Have a safe placel for them, such as a locked press which a child cannot| too, such as vitamins. Iron tablets are particularly lethal, consultant, M r Anthony Martin. open wake of their use and by 85 per cent in the United States. Children don't just take one tablet, often they can be caught with an * Household products, such as bleach, disinfectants, white spirits,! Products, such as white spirits, are also among the culprits in child empty botde." Toddlers are the greatest offenders, he says. "They can get around poisoning cases, say health experts. Other dangerous substances and weedkiller can be very dangerous. Keep them locked up and outl of reach. and are just about able to climb. The intelligent ones want to explore include bleach, toilet cleaner, and washing powder. * Never store any chemical in the press under the sink or where| Doctor Sheelah Ryan, the chief executive of the Western Health and head for cupboards. Children are far superior at opening child Board, says the high statistics of accidental poisoning in Ireland high they can be easily reached in the bathroom proof bottles than adults." * Ensure that your childminder keeps medicines and chemicals out| Few children die, fortunately, he says. "We get most of them in light the harm medicines can do when taken by children out of curiosity or in the false belief that they are sweets. of your children's reach time. However, it's very worrying for parents and is traumatic for the "Many of these accidents occur in the home when young children * Remember that grandparents and older people are more likely! children to be held down and given something horrible to drink." are beginning to explore by opening presses and containers," she than younger adults to be taking medication so when visiting theirl says. house make sure that medicines are out of reach too CHILD RESISTANT CONTAINERS * Bring all your unused and out-of-date medicines back to your| He urges parents to keep all medicines and dangerous substances pharmacist for safe disposal SAFE STORAGE in a locked cupboard and to be vigilant when visiting friends, espe * Always keep medicines in their original pack or bottle and do notl She urges people to seek advice from their pharmacist about the cially older people or couples with no children, because they may safe storage and disposal of medicines and chemical household prod take the label off. It contains vital information in the event of anl have medicines lying around. emergency Prescription medicines are more likely to be involved in accidental ucts, such as bleach and weedkiller. WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY Toddlers cannot tell the difference between a tablet and a sweet, poisonings than over the counter preparations, say experts. Most poi * Speed is important: get medical advice immediately says Brendan Quinn, a Gort based pharmacist and the president of the sonings occur from medicines which are not kept in child resistant * Take your child and the remaining medicine or empty bottle| Irish Pharmaceutical Union. If something looks interesting, they will containers. straight to your local accident and emergency department taste it and sometimes this leads to poisoning. These containers stop or slow down the child's attempt to open a * Do not try to make your child vomit, this may make things worse | "They are attracted by bright colours. If something looks red and is bottle to reach the contents. Most children under the age of five can * Do not give her anything to eat or drink round, they think it's a sweet. Children often overdose on iron tablets not open them. * If the child is sleepy or unconscious, put her lying on her side Recent evidence indicates that three quarters of the 3,000 Irish or anti-depressants." * Act quickly and calmly because even just a few minutes make all| Medicines lying around the house are a real risk to children, he accidents could be reduced by the use of these containers. Deaths and stresses. "If there are children in your home, even some of the time. the difference. injuries have dropped by SO per cent in the United Kingdom in the
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