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Effectiveness of child-resistant packaging on toxin procurement in young poisoning victims

R B Lembersky1, M H Nichols, W D King

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35233, USA.

Veterinary and Human Toxicology
|October 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Child-resistant packaging is not always impenetrable, with young children accessing poisons even from properly secured containers. This highlights the need for improved safety measures and poison prevention education.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Safety
  • Toxicology
  • Consumer Product Safety

Background:

  • Unintentional poisonings are a significant risk for children under 5.
  • Child-resistant packaging aims to prevent such incidents, but its effectiveness is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the frequency and methods by which young children access poisons from child-resistant packaging.
  • To evaluate the role of packaging in pediatric poisoning incidents.

Main Methods:

  • A survey of caretakers for 168 children under 5 presenting with toxin exposures.
  • Data collected on the toxin's container, closure type, and method of access.
  • Exclusions included plant ingestions, bites/stings, and caretaker overdoses.

Main Results:

  • 33% of exposures involved child-resistant closures.
  • Children accessed poisons from properly closed child-resistant closures in 20% of cases.
  • Improper packaging use (e.g., transferring contents) contributed significantly to exposures.

Conclusions:

  • Child-resistant closures are not always impenetrable to young children.
  • Current child-resistant closure testing protocols may need reevaluation.
  • Packaging misuse and inadequate poison prevention education are critical factors in pediatric poisonings.

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