CHILDHOOD accidents cause great suffering and distress. Poisoning by the intake of drugs and other domestic fluids is more common in kids of 1-5 years to age. Although the movements of toddlers are not fully coordinated, they like to run, jump, dance, investigate and imitate older kids and adults, often leading to dangerous situations, like accidental home poisoning, if not constantly supervised and cared for. Hence the lack of supervision and adults carelessness are major contributing factors to all childhood accidents’ in general and accidental home poisoning in kids in particulars.
THE POISONS:
Poison is any substance solid, liquid ar gas which when taken into the body in sufficient amount may damage health or even destroy life. It may be taken either accidentally or intentionally.
THROUGH LUNGS:
Breathing poisoning gases fumes.
BY THE MOUTH:
Swallowing drugs and other fluids.
BY INJUNCTION:
Under the skin.
BY ABSORPTION:
Through he skin.
INCIDENCE AND CAUSES
The peak incidence of accidental home poisoning in kids is between the age of one and five years. After five years of age the kids become more discriminative and selective about what they swallow. Drugs account for at least more than 50% of the cases while house hold products for 46%.
DRUGS:
The most important factors in a etiology besides the age of the patient and social class are abundance of drugs and Household Chemicals in our homes, none of them in kid proof containers, inappropriate storage and lack of supervision.
LACK OF EDUCATION:
Poisoning occurs in the poorer section of the society who are illiterate and live in poor over-crowded dwellings. Mothers had little knowledge of the toxicity of drugs and common household chemicals. In this milieu drugs and domestic products are deposited inappropriately in all cases. Even when they are kept in cabinets or containers they are not locked or covered.
LACK OF SUPERVISION:
The peak hour of poisoning are between 10 A.M. and 4.00 P.M. when the mother is usually very busy and doing household chores, working in the kitchen, attending a baby or to herself, entertaining guests or asleep.
FIRST AID AND TREATMENT:
The plan of first aid procedure is different in each of the three general types of Poisoning as indicated below:
POISONING BY INHALATION:
Remove the victim from the room or area in which he has inhaled the poison gas (such as carbon monoxide) and administer artificial respiration necessary to keep the victim breathing. Call a doctor or shift the patient to the hospital.
BY SKIN:
This includes poisoning by snakebite or by the sting of an insect. Place a constricting band (necktie or bandage) around the leg or arm in which the injection was made and about two inches above the site of injection. The band should be snug but not so tight as to cut off blood circulation in the deeper vessels. The purpose of the band is to reduce the spread of the poison through the superficial tissues. For further management immediately call a doctor or take the patient to the hospital.
POISONING BY MOUTH:
Unless the child has swallowed Kerosene, Corrosive acid or strong Alkali or Drugs, he should immediately be made to vomit by inserting a finger deep down his throat. If lips and mouth show signs of burns, give quantities of water, milk or barley water to dilute the poison. If kid is unconscious and breathing has ceased, commence artificial respiration immediately. This may have to be continued until hospital treatment can be given, as part of the breathing mechanism has been disturbed by the poison. Remove the casualty (kid) to hospital quickly as soon as possible.
TO INDUCE VOMITING:
Give the victim three or four glasses of milk, then turn the child face downward with head a little lower than the hips and gag by inserting the index finger past the tongue into the throat. Protect finger against being bitten by pinching the victim’s cheeks between the teeth. The advantage of using milk is that it has the effect of neutralizing some poisons. Also, milk or any other fluid in the stomach will dilute the poison and provide a means of rinsing the stomach’s lining at the time of vomiting. The reason for placing the victim’s face downward with head lower than hips is to keep vomits from entering the lungs.
PREVENTION
The following is a list of precautionary measures, which when adopted and put into effect can practically eliminate all dangers of accidental home poisoning in the kids.
1. Keeping all drugs, Poisonous Substances, and household chemicals out of the reach of kids. (Remember kids can climb).
2. Do not store non-edible products on shelves used for storing food.
3. Keep all poisonous substances in their original containers; don’t transfer to unlabelled containers.
4. When medicines are discarded, destroy them. Don’t throw them where they may be reached by kids or pets. Flush them down the toilet.
5. When giving flavored or brightly colored medicine to “kids”, always refer to it as medicine never as candy.
6. Do not give or take medicine in the dark.
7. Read labels before using chemical products.
8. Long term preventive measures include improved housing and socio-economic status of social class most affected.
9. Health education is very important in the prevention of poisoning. Educating the public through the mass media is also effective.
Continuous and attractive reminders through radio, television and newspapers would create public awareness which will in time reach the poorer and illiterate section of the society as well.
MESSAGEWhatever method is used, message is simple, “Locking up poisons and reducing the accessibility of children to poisonous substances with more supervision of those under five years of age. The aim is to produce a gradual change in parental behaviors and environment rather than restricting children’s activities.”
