| | EMERGENCY... or not? If your child is choking, losing consciousness, stops breathing or develops fits from swallowing poisonous household chemicals, call 995 immediately for an ambulance. But for mild symptoms such as stomach upset, get free advice round-the-clock from the SGH Drug and Poison Information Centre (DPIC).
A young mother called the DPIC hotline after her two-year-old child swallowed a teaspoon of shaving cream. She was frantic and unsure if her toddler needed emergency medical treatment. The boy did not look too distressed.
DPIC staff assured the woman there was no need for a trip to the hospital as shaving cream is non-toxic. The woman was advised to feed her son some water or milk. When staff called back a few hours later to check on the situation, the boy was well and happily playing with his toys. Accidental poisoning can sometimes happen at home. But knowing what household products contain poisons that kill or have ingredients that only cause discomfort will ease your anxiety. Which household products are dangerous?Products that can be toxic to young children include household cleaners which contain strong acid or alkali, window cleaning solutions, antifreeze and medicine. But there are a variety of products commonly found in the home that are non-toxic or have low toxicity. These are not dangerous when accidentally swallowed or splashed on the skin. As their ingredients contain little or no harmful effects when small amounts are taken, no treatment is required.
However, these products may cause mild stomach upset which will go away within a few hours. Water, juice or milk may be taken to dilute and reduce the taste of the product. But some non-toxic products may still be a choking hazard. Call an ambulance immediately if the person has difficulty or stop breathing, develops fits or becomes unconscious. Examples of minimally toxic products- Cosmetics: makeup, lip balm and nail polish
- Bathroom items: soap, non-medicated shampoo, shaving cream, toothpaste
- Cleaning agents: washing detergents, bleach, disinfectant
- Others: Ballpoint pen inks, erasers, calamine lotion, crayons, silica gel
- Prevent accidental poisoning
Examples of minimally toxic products- Keep potentially harmful products away from children at all times.
- Do not refer to medicine as candies.
- Children may misunderstand and reach out for them when you’re not looking.
- Throw away unused/ expired medicines and household products.
- Keep all medicine and household products in their original containers with their labels intact.
Article contributed by Shyamala Nara, Senior Principal Clinical Pharmacist, SGH. | |