Purpose: Comment the Discussion
To Comment
Poisoning Prevention
Audience
Adults who have any interaction with young children.
Objective
Prevent injury to cells by inhalation, ingestion, or absorption, by providing succinct poisoning prevention education for children 1-4 years of age.
Statistics
Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children 0 to 19 years of age in the United States, resulting in more than 12,000 deaths and 9.2 million nonfatal injuries per year. Poisoning occurs at the highest rates between children 1 to 4 years of age. Every day, two children die from poisoning, (CDC, 2015).
Goal
Protect children who often cannot protect themselves by providing tips to poison-proof the home or children's environment, thereby decreasing the rate of morbidity and mortality related to poisoning in children.
Risk factors
Susceptibility of young children to ingestion of poison: they're curious, put anything in their mouths, and do not know the consequences.
Adolescents tend to be aware of the consequences but are more susceptible to risk taking behaviors. Children 1-4 are smaller in size, so they can reach toxicity levels easily because of their body weight (WHO, 2008).
Intervention
Place key prevention tips on a colorful magnet and distribute to parents and caregivers:
Lock them up
Out of sight
Original packaging
Know and call the poison control number, 1-800-222-1222 if you suspect poisoning, but call 911 if child becomes unresponsive
Away from reach
Follow label directions carefully
Safely dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs and over the counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements (CDC, 2017).
Evidence
The CDC posted key prevention tips based on epidemiological data (CDC, 2017). The WHO posted a fact sheet with stats and epidemiologic differences worldwide, and listed proven prevention strategies as well as ineffective ones (WHO, 2008).
A study by Lovegrove, Weidle, and Budnitz (2015) noted that reinvigorated efforts by the prevention initiative: PROTECT, (PRevention of Overdoses and Treatment Errors in Children Taskforce) coincided with a decline in ED visits for unsupervised poison exposure. Their approach promotes safer packaging and flow-restricting dosing devices through legislation and enforcement of child-resistant packaging.
Evaluation
Utilize surveillance data to compare baseline statistics to post intervention data to assess whether the outcome of decreased morbidity and mortality related to poisoning was achieved. Consider barriers to implementation, and whether the magnet intervention reduced injury risk for this population.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2015). Childhood injury report.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2017). Poisoning prevention.
Lovegrove, M. C., Weidle, N. J., & Budnitz, D. S. (2015). Trends in emergency department visits for unsupervised pediatric medication exposures, 2004-2013.
Pediatrics, 136(4), 821-829.
World Health Organization [WHO]. (2008). Children and poisoning.
Thing to Remember:
• Answer this discussion with opinions/ideas creatively and clearly. Supports post using several outside, peer-reviewed sources.
• 1 References, find resources that are 5 years or less
• No errors with APA format 6 Edition