The Child
Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) is calling on parents, grandparents, friends
and family to ensure medicines and cleaning products are out of sight and reach
of young children and to alert families to the risks of carbon monoxide
poisoning this Christmas time.
Christmas is always a busy
time for parents with presents to buy, meals to plan and family and friends to
entertain. It is an especially joyous time for children. But with so much going
on, Christmas can also be an especially hazardous time for young children when
it comes to poisoning accidents. Distracted parents may leave cleaning products
within reach of small hands, while guests may leave pills in handbags or
counted out on bedside cabinets.
Every day 15 young children are admitted to hospital with
suspected poisoning. Medicines are the
most common cause of accidental poisoning, with everyday painkillers a frequent
culprit. Cleaning products such as bleach, oven cleaner and detergent liquitabs
are also common hazards. Yet many parents are unaware that safety tops are not
child-proof.
The risk for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning peaks in the
winter, often caused by unsafe central heating systems, gas cookers or gas
fires. Every year 50 children are
admitted to hospital from CO poisoning in the home. Children are at greater risk of serious
damage or death from CO poisoning, as their bodies are smaller and weaker than
those of an adult and therefore they can be overcome by the fumes quicker.
Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive, CAPT commented: “A
frantic dash to casualty with a toddler who has swallowed something poisonous
isn’t on anybody’s Christmas list. That’s why we want parents to be aware of
the increased risks that come with friends and family visiting, changes in
routine and a bit more chaos than usual. Follow our quick and easy safety tips to
keep Christmas festive and young children safe from serious harm.”
Dr
Joe Brierley, Consultant
Paediatric Intensivist, Great Ormond Street Hospital said: “Christmas is for many a time of great joy, of family and
togetherness with children spending time visiting relatives and friends. However, in homes that
don’t normally have young children – and even those that do - just take 5
minutes on arrival for a quick safety check.”
Medicines
- Ask visitors to your home, such as grandparents, not to leave medicines in places where young children can find them, for example in handbags on the floor or counted out on bedside cabinets.
- Remember that safety tops slow young children down but are not child-proof.
Alcohol
- Clear away any bottles of alcohol and the last dregs of drinks left in glasses, as even small amounts of alcohol can poison young children.
Household products
- If you are staying away from home, check to see where the household cleaners are. If they’re next to the toilet or under the sink, move them out of reach and sight of young children.
- Be especially wary of liquitabs. They are bright and attractive to young children who can mistake them for sweets.
Carbon Monoxide
- Buy a carbon monoxide alarm for any room with a flame-burning appliance such as a gas boiler, gas cooker, gas fire or an open fire.
For more practical advice on poison prevention go to the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s website www.capt.org.uk
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