A LOUD, (NOT WHISPERING) CONVERSATION WITH MY CHILDREN

The golden egg icon means I’m talking to my children. Sometimes I get ratty with them.

You have a baby who is on the verge of crawling and who wants to eat everything.

Why, why, why then do you leave coins lying about the floor and on low tables.

Don’t you know the diameter of a baby’s intestine in relation to that of a coin?

Don’t you know that coins don’t dissolve when they are swallowed?????

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I have some awful recollections as a junior doctor of small children being brought into hospital suffering from overdoses of medications prescribed to their parents, grandparents or other adults in the family. Some of these children died. Indeed I remember when toddler twins both died from an overdose of aspirin within hours of each other.

Attempts were tried by pharmacists to dispense medicines in small bottles with lids that were difficult to open. The trouble was that some adults felt them difficult to open too and consequently, sometimes the “difficult” lid was discarded and the small bottles plugged with cotton wool.

Nowadays blister packs are more common but they might present as an interesting challenge to the older toddler although some perseverance would be required to remove large numbers of tablets. Nevertheless more adults receive medications than ever before and there is always a hazard in visiting friends and relatives even if your own home is safe enough.

I know someone who keeps all his tablets, bottles, inhalers and insulin injections piled up on the kitchen table. They take up about one third of the space there. He says he needs to have them in front of him so he won’t forget to take them. No doubt he is some child’s grandfather and the parents will need to be extra vigilant when they visit because he is so set in his ways he will never change. No doubt he drops tablets on their floor beneath him from time to time.

However, most parents would want to ensure that their own house is safe for their own and visiting children. A locked medicine cupboard out of the reach of young children is the answer. Indeed I think all new houses should be built nowadays with one of these wall mounted medicine cabinets and several other locked cupboards too especially the ones below the sink.

A study in Michigan demonstrated recently demonstrated some disconcerting findings on this matter:

NEARLY I IN 4 GRANDPARENTS STORE PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES WHERE CHILDREN CAN EASILY FIND THEM

COUNTRY : USA

“Unintentional poisonings from medicines cause more emergency room visits for young children each year than do car accidents. One key reason may be that nearly 1 of every 4 grandparents says that they store prescription medicines in easy-access ways, according to a new poll.”

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Not sure if this Easter garland is made of chocolate or not!  I’m a bit late in putting up this post since Easter is over, and its not really relevant to human health – although if your beloved dog dies from an overdose of chocolate it can make a whole family feel very ill.

Chocolate contains a constituent know as theobromine. This is metabolised much slower in animals than in the human and can lead to toxicity and even death if an animal devours chocolate intended for human consumption. Dogs, because of their sweet tooth are particularly susceptible. Cats on the other hand tend to be more choosy about what they eat  usually preferring a mouse or bird to a chocolate easter egg.

WHAT MAKES CHOCOLATE TOXIC AND WHAT ARE THE SIGNS SEEN WITH TOXICITY?

COUNTRY : USA

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Old medicine bottles have always held a fascination for me. I have purchased a few of my own from antique stalls over the years – generally very small ones, and I use them as tiny vases each with an individual flower from the garden in them. They are often dark blue, “bottle” green, or brown in colour. I can’t remember whether the colours have any particular significance other than excluding light from the liquid ingredients. However the thing that always struck me was the ridges on the outsides of the bottles. The idea was, in the days when rooms were gloomy and lit only by candlelight, the sense of touch would indicate the poisonous nature of the liquid inside.

It is a reminder how hazardous medicines can be to young children if they curiously taste them. It is not only medicine that can poison a child. Dangerous items may be found in kitchen cupboards, garden sheds etc and even plants in the garden itself.

POISONING IN CHILDREN

COUNTRY : UK

“Accidents in the home are much too common, especially since many can be avoided by taking a few simple precautions.
Some of the more serious accidents are poisoning incidents involving children. When young children explore the world, they use all their senses including taste. They typically put everything in their mouth to find out what it is. For this reason, adults must make sure that children do not have access to anything poisonous.
It is surprising just how many ordinary household articles are dangerous in this respect. To make your home safe from poisoning, examine it carefully one room at a time. Identify any potentially harmful substances and either lock them away or store them somewhere out of your children’s reach.”

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A child suffered burns from a cup of tea.

A toddler playing in the garden under observation from a kitchen window let the brake off an old fashioned high pram so he could take his new sister for a walk and the pram toppled before anyone could get to it.

A toddler wanders into the bathroom and tries to drink a bottle of bubble bath.

And so it goes on. Living is a dangerous activity for a toddler.

Most doctors who have spent some time in general practice, paediatrics or accident and emergency departments will have some indelible memories of the consequences of accidents in the home involving young children.

The most important basic rule is never to let young toddlers out of your sight even if you feel your home has been made accident proof. Toddlers are inquisitive and have no concept of danger and they will discover interesting activities that have never even crossed your mind.

The link below covers hazards in the kitchen, cleaning products and household chemicals, electrical cords, stoves and ovens, living rooms and bedrooms, windows, shelving, floor covering, tablecloths, power points, the bathroom and stairs.

TODDLERS : MAKING YOUR HOME SAFE

COUNTRY : UK

“Children love playing with running water but it only takes 10cm (4in) of water for a small child to drown.
If a small child’s face goes underwater, they will automatically breathe in so that they can scream and this will fill their lungs with water.

Children also lose their sense of direction underwater, so they can’t react by pulling their head out or standing up as an adult would do.

Put bath and basin plugs out of reach, so that a child can’t fill up the bath or basin.

The toilet lid can be held down with a clip attachment, so a child can’t open it.

You may want to adjust the thermostat on the boiler while your child is still a toddler – so if they turn on a tap, they won’t be scalded with very hot water.

All medicine, tablets, vitamins and herbal remedies should be locked in a medicine cabinet or other cupboard, so a child can’t get to them and swallow them – colourful pills are very attractive to children.

Remember that medical poisonings can be extremely serious.

There are no completely child-proof containers, so make sure that anything dangerous is locked away or well out of reach to an inquisitive and agile child.”

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This baby does not look at all safe to me, but I expect someone was behind the scenes carefully holding him/her in position and then blacked out for the final photo. Such is the wonder of digital photography.

Babies are generally tough little beings but are totally dependent on others for their safety.

The main worry I used to have was when bathing a baby. The slipperiness and the kicking horrified me and seemed to be just the right scenario for landing on the floor. When my children were young, all operations such as bathing, nappy changing etc took place on the floor on the assumption there wouldn’t be too far to fall.

The modern changing units at adult waist level fill me with fear. It just takes a moment to stretch out and reach for something….

Another thing that drove me nuts was the doorbell ringing. What are you supposed to do if you are alone and  in the middle of bathing a baby?

Leave it to ring I suppose.

BABIES : HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME SAFE

COUNTRY : UK

“Children have many accidents in the home that could be prevented by making the house and garden safer. It’s also essential to choose baby equipment and toys that will not do your child any harm.
Making your home safe also means being aware at all times of where your child is and what they are doing. And, should an emergency arise, knowing how best to react.”

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All aspects of gardening can be a real problem for people with arthritis and other joint, muscle or spine problems and what can be achieved depends on the degree of disability. Nevertheless, for many gardening continues to be an enjoyable hobby that helps mobility and fitness.

Arthritis Research UK has a section on its website giving gardening advice. The leaflet covers protecting your joints, garden layout, and maintaining the garden and can be downloaded.

GARDENING AND ARTHRITIS

COUNTRY: UK

Gardening is good exercise, but doing any repetitive activity for a long time can cause inflammation and pain if you have arthritis, and it may mean you need to rest completely until your flare-up passes.
You should aim for a balance between exercising your joints and muscles to stay mobile without straining them. ‘Little and often’ is usually the best approach, but switching between different jobs will also help. The following tips should help to avoid flare-ups of pain:

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I can always remember as a medical student being told that in the UK them most dangerous job was mining and farming was not far behind. I don’t know whether this still holds true today, however it seems gardening is not the safest occupation either. I certainly know of people who have been killed while gardening and others who have had serious eye injuries.

This BBC website deals with the problem under the headings:

Why accidents happen

Making your garden safer

Pond safety

Using a stepladder

Personal safety equipment

BBC – SAFETY IN THE GARDEN

COUNTRY : UK

The lawnmower tops the list of the most dangerous pieces of equipment, with 6, 500 lawnmower related accidents reported each year. Suprisingly the inocuous flowerpot is the second most dangerous tool, causing 5, 300 accidents, with falls, cuts and lifting injuries some of the most common types of accident recorded.
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Personal safety equipment
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Always make sure that you are wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to avoid a serious injury when working in the garden. This is particularly important when operating machinery such as mowers, strimmers, chainsaws and hedge-trimmers. PPE can include steel-toe caped boots, goggles, ear-defenders, gloves etc. Always consult an expert if you are unsure what you should be wearing for a job.

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COUNTRY: UK

The BBC currently have a small test of first aid knowledge called “First Aid Skills Programme.” It is a good way to learn quickly even if you get the answers wrong. Try it a few times till you get it all right and maybe repeat it every few weeks to refresh your memory.

It covers:
Bleeding and burns….Bone, joint and muscle…..Medical conditions…… Poisoning and allergic……. Respiratory problems……..Resuscitation……. Scene of an emergency.

These activities and interactive videos will introduce you to the core principles of first aid and equip you with skills applicable in everyday life.
The practical techniques and mental checklists will give you the knowledge and confidence to tackle almost any emergency whether you look after children or care for older people.

BBC – FIRST AID SKILLS PROGRAMME

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