Rb. Lembersky et al., EFFECTIVENESS OF CHILD-RESISTANT PACKAGING ON TOXIN PROCUREMENT IN YOUNG POISONING VICTIMS, Veterinary and human toxicology, 38(5), 1996, pp. 380-383
The objective of this study was to determine how often and how childre
n <5 y-of-age involved In unintentional poisonings gained access to th
ose poisons by opening properly secured child-resistant packages. From
June 1994 through February 1995 we surveyed caretakers of children <5
y-of-age presenting with the chief complaint of ingestion, inhalation
, or ocular or dermal exposure of potential or perceived toxins. Exclu
ded were exposures to plants, bites or stings, or patients inadvertent
ly overdosed by a caretaker. The survey was administered to caretakers
of 168 patients. Mean age was 26 mo (range 9 mo to 56.9 mo). The toxi
n was In its original container In 71% and transferred to another cont
ainer or found outside of its container in 29% of cases; 33% involved
a child-resistant closure. The child gained access by opening a proper
ly closed child-resistant closure in 20% of the exposures and in 18.5%
by opening a properly closed non-child-resistant closure. Child-resis
tance did not ensure child impenetrability. This suggests the need to
reevaluate child-resistant closure testing protocols or retest current
ly used closures. Packaging misuse, including improper closure use or
transferring medications or household products from the original conta
iner accounts for a large percentage of pediatric toxin exposures, thu
s emphasizing the importance of poison prevention education.