News

21st June 2004

Child resistant tops don't stop accidents

One in five toddlers can open medicines and chemical bottles with child resistant tops, according to safety experts.

The findings have been released to coincide with the launch of Child Safety Week and safety experts warn that parents should ensure potentially dangerous products are stored safely.

Every year 25,000 under-fives are taken to casualty, suspected of swallowing substances ranging from medicines to household cleaning products and one in five are admitted to hospital for treatment.

The Child Accident Prevention Trust warned, "Child-resistant tops are now commonplace on most medicine bottles and household chemicals - but they are child-resistant, not child-proof."

The trust says common painkillers are the most frequent cause of childhood poisoning, responsible for one in four hospital admissions and says just six strong aspirins could harm a toddler, and one or two mouthfuls of toilet cleaner could cause internal burning.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said, "We have seen a reduction in the number of poisonings within the home which involve children. But parents still need to store dangerous products out of children's reach - and that can include things like perfume and aftershave."

The trust advises families to; " Store all medicines high up, well out of reach and sight of young children, preferably in a locked medicine cupboard " Store all household cleaning products such as bleach out of sight, high up out of reach and in cupboards with child-resistant catches " Never leave tablets in a handbag or on a bedside table - these are favourite places for toddlers to find them

Katrina Phillips of the Child Protection Trust said "Parents should not be lulled into a false sense of security - child-resistant tops are not child-proof. Don't tempt fate and leave your child's safety to chance. Just a few simple checks could save you and your child a harrowing hospital visit - or even save their life."

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