U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the federal agency charged with protecting consumers against accident-causing products, stated that the childproof caps on 2.3 million units of Triaminic and Theraflu did not work. As a result of these poorly designed caps, 4 children were poisoned resulting in one having to be medically treated. Apparently eight others were able to open the bottles but did not ingest any medicine.
Dr. Donna Seger, the executive director of the Tennessee Poison Center and a professor at Vanderbilt University, told abc news that "'Cold and flu medicine are one of the top exposures that children have in the U.S.'” It may be common, but it is no laughing matter.
“The recalled syrups contain acetaminophen -- a fever reducer that can cause liver injury or liver failure if ingested in large amounts, said Henry Spiller, a toxicologist and director of the Central Ohio Poison Center. Some of the syrups also contain diphenhydramine, an antihistamine that can cause seizures or cardiac arrhythmias after an overdose.”(abc)
Since 1970 it has been the normal thing to see child proof caps on medicine. However, children under five-years-old are very drawn to these fruity tasting syrups. In 2011 40,000 children five-years and under experienced acetaminophen poisoning.
“Another 15,000 children younger than 5 experienced diphenhydramine poisoning. That's excluding ibuprofen syrups and other antihistamines.” (abc)
It's so important to call your local poison control if you even think your child could have ingested medicine. It does not take all that much to overload the liver or other organs. The size of the child and weight are used to determine if the amount ingested was too much. It is better to be safe than sorry with your most valuable treasure, your child. Please pass this news to others so the word can get out. Here is the full list of recalled products.
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