Poisoning, a common risk for children
Donya Betancourt, Pediatrician, Sanur, Bali, drdonya@hotmail.com
Poisoning continues to be one of the leading causes of injury and death, with more than 50 percent of reported poisonings involving children six and younger.
Poisoning is most common in children ages one and two and is one of the most common reasons children are seen in emergency rooms.
What is a poison?
A poison is anything that can make you sick or kill you if you eat it, breath it, get it in your eyes or on your skin.
Most poisonings are the result of ingestion (swallowing). The most common substances involved in reported poisonings include medicine and vitamins, household products, cosmetics and plants.
There are a number of factors why poisonings occur; these include:
* Lack of supervision. Children, who are left alone, even for a few moments, are at greatest risk of poisoning.
* Improper storage of potentially poisonous substances. Poisons left within the reach and sight of children place them at risk. Poisons must be stored in locked cabinets out of the reach and sight of children. Children are curious by nature. They love to explore. This is the way they learn. A child desires to mimic adult behavior and often mimics the behavior of adults and siblings. If for example, a child sees a parent taking medicine, he or she may be tempted to take some too.
If you believe someone has been poisoned, look for these signs:
* Burns or redness around the mouth and lips. Breath that smells like chemicals, perhaps gasoline or paint thinner.
* Burns, stains and odors on the person, on his or her clothing or on the furniture, floor, rugs or other objects in the surrounding area.
* Vomiting, difficulty in breathing, sleepiness, confusion or other unexpected signs.
If you cannot find any indication of poisoning, do not treat the person for poisoning. Meanwhile, make the person as comfortable as possible. If poisoning occurs, follow the instructions on the product label specifying what to do.
1. If the person is alert, give him or her a glass of water or milk to drink. If the person is weak, lethargic, unconscious or having seizures, do not give anything by mouth.
2. If you cannot identify the poison or there are no instructions on the product label, call the local poison control center for instructions. Do not induce vomiting unless directed by a poison control authority or your doctor or unless the label on the poison tells you to do so. Generally, do not induce vomiting if the substance ingested is caustic, such as lye, or is a petroleum distillate, such as kerosene or gasoline, or if the person is lethargic, is having a seizure or is unconscious.
3. If you are told to induce vomiting in the victim, use ipecac syrup. An alternative is to touch the back of the person's throat to initiate gagging.
If you have no other alternative, have the person drink a glass of warm water containing a teaspoon of dried mustard or three teaspoons of salt.
4. After the person has vomited, give the person a glass of water or milk.
5. If the poison has spilled on the person's clothing, skin or eyes, remove the person's clothing. Flush the skin or eyes with cool or lukewarm water, for instance, using a shower for 20 minutes while you seek medical attention.
6. Get immediate medical attention.
You can help keep your family safe by:
* Keeping poisons in locked cabinets. Keep poisons stored in the bottles they came in. Make sure the bottles are clearly labeled. Never store poisons in drink or food bottles.
* Keep medicines and vitamins in bottles with child-safety caps (child-resistant packaging). Before you use a poison, read the label on the bottle.
* While you are using a poison, never leave it out where a child may find it.
* After you use a poison, put it back in a locked cabinet. Never call medicine "candy".
* Avoid taking medicine in front of your child or giving medicine to one child while another is watching. Children are natural mimics. They may be tempted to take the medicine later, when you are not around.