Grandparents! Prevent Your Grandchildren from Being Poisoned:
Safety Alert!
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Grandparents! Prevent Your Grandchildren from Being Poisoned:
Safety Alert!
CPSC Document #5041
A startling fact has been learned in a study undertaken by the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in association with the
Poison Information Center at the Children's Hospital in
Birmingham, Alabama. This study showed that 36% of the childhood
ingestions related to a prescription vial involved a
grandparent's medication.
Grandparents and parents must become aware of the surprising
finding that over one-third of the accidental childhood
prescription drug ingestions involve a grandparent's medication.
Grandparents often have non-child-resistant prescription vials or
loose pills out on tables, kitchen counters, or in purses or
pockets. Children swallow these medications when they are
visiting grandparents or when the grandparents visit them.
To prevent this continuing tragedy
1. Parents and grandparents must keep medicines out of the
reach-and out of sight-of grandchildren.
2. Grandparents should use child-resistant vials if they are able
to. Although grandparents may get traditional easy-to-open
closures by asking their pharmacist for them, the child-resistant
vials should be used whenever children are around. It is true
that child-resistant closures are inconvenient to use, but the
inconvenience is worth it to save a child's life!
Children are curious; adults must help keep children safe.
For more information on how to prevent childhood poisonings, call
the toll-free CPSC Hotline on 800-638-CPSC. A TTY for the hearing
impaired can be reached on 800-638-8270.
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