The Medicine Mom By DR. Tara Kompare, Pharm. D.

Poison-Proof Your Home with C.A.R.E.

In the blink of an eye, a small child can embark upon adventures you would have never thought possible. With careful skill and determination, a 2-year-old can pull up a chair, climb onto the counter and reach into a cabinet filled with hazardous chemicals in a record-breaking 60 seconds.
I know because I have witnessed this event with my own children. After some close calls, I determined that there is no such thing as “childproof.” And remember, whether it is medicine, cleaning products or makeup, all are potential poisons when ingested in large enough quantities.
But there some vital things you can do to reduce the risk of accidental poisoning. The third week in March is poison prevention week, so I thought this would be a good time to share some ways to poison-proof your home with C.A.R.E.

Close lids securely. Remember: child resistant does NOT equal childproof. Small children can—and will—learn how to open a child-resistant top when given enough time. Many, in fact, can pop a top off quicker than the average adult, especially if you have unwittingly aided them in the process by not screwing the top back on all the way.

AAim high. The higher the better, when it comes to the storage of dangerous household chemicals. Never store any cleaning supplies under the sink, giving easy access to kids. Even if you have locks on all of your cabinets, try your best to store anything harmful as high up as possible.

RReact fast. If the child is unconscious, call 911 immediately. If he or she is conscious and alert, call the poison control center and wait for instructions. Some basic tips to remember:
1. Ingested poison: Contrary to advice when I was a kid, syrup of ipecac is not a recommended antidote for poisonings at home. Ipecac induces vomiting, and so many of the substances that kids get their hands on can cause just as much harm on their way out as on their way in.

2. Inhaled: In the event that they inhale a caustic substance, bring them to a well-ventilated area, preferably outside.

3. Skin contact: Immediately remove all contaminated clothing and flood the affected area with water for at least 10 minutes. If the substance is of powder form, brush off as much as possible before rinsing.

4. Eye contact: Irrigate the eye with lukewarm water for 10 to 15 minutes and be careful to avoid spreading poison to the other eye.

E Expect the unexpected. Never underestimate the intelligence of a toddler. They are quick and full of surprises. Just in case of emergency, always keep the poison control center hotline (1-800-222-1222) in an easy-to-find place such as on the refrigerator or by the telephone. The hotline is manned with poison prevention experts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To help them out, keep an up-to-date record of your child’s height and weight.

Poison Control Hotline 1-800-222-1222

For more information, see poisonprevention.org.

Tara Kompare lives in Virginia and is a doctor of pharmacy as well as the mother of two amazing little girls. Her book ,“The Colic Chronicles” (Da Capo Lifelong) is scheduled for release in summer 2008. Her website is www.themedicinemom.com.

Archives: