By Esther Mokaya
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – Our children are our most valued possessions in life, and we would do anything to keep them safe.
The pleasures of watching our children grow up are limitless.
They transform from helpless bundles of joy who can barely hold their heads up to balls of energy racing about everywhere in the blink of an eye.
Their curiosity has no bounds as they grow to discover the world and all its wonders.
Unfortunately, until babies have a full awareness of risk, whatever they can get their small swift paws on ends up in their mouths.
As a result, many families devote a significant amount of time and effort on childproofing the home to ensure that their children do not inadvertently damage themselves.
Unfortunately, the practice diminishes as the youngsters grow older and more self-sufficient.
However, it is crucial to recognize that there is still a chance that older children will injure themselves through no fault of their own, because accidents do happen even at home.
In addition to tripping or running into objects, children can sometimes get poisoned by mistake, and hence the inspiration for this piece.
Poisoning is defined as the detrimental effect that occurs when a hazardous chemical is consumed, inhaled, or comes into contact with the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes such as the mouth or nose.
Every home contains a goldmine of poisons that many people don’t even consider.
We all use prescription and over the counter (OTC) medications, as well as detergents, insecticides, and a variety of other home chemicals.
While adults can detect poisons right away, children may be enticed by them.
The achingly delicious smell of fabric softener may be a warning about its toxic nature, but to a toddler, it may be a temptation to sample the liquid.
For older youngsters, they may accidently take a mouthful of colourless chemicals that are laying around and gulp it before realizing it isn’t water.
To put the matter into perspective, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that acute poisoning kills roughly 45, 000 children and youth under the age of 20 each year.
Without a doubt, public education can mean the difference between life and death.
When poisoning happens, it is crucial to remember that symptoms will vary depending on the poison consumed, the amount consumed, the person’s age, and their overall health.
The good news is that early first-aid actions may help decrease the poison’s negative consequences.
However, some commonly held beliefs about treatment may do more harm than benefit.
When a child consumes a toxin, most parents will attempt to induce vomiting; however, some compounds, such as bleaches and detergents, will cause more damage to the throat and mouth lining.
To prevent further consequences of the poisoning, clothing should be removed immediately, and the body properly cleaned.
Poisons in the eyes or skin should be rinsed out with clean water as soon as possible.
When a poisonous gas, such as cooking gas, is inhaled, the victim should be moved outside or to a place with fresh air.
Then after basic first aid, it is recommended that the child be sent to a hospital for observation, which will establish the precise treatment for the toxin consumed.
Some poisons may require antidotes to mitigate their effects; thus, the container or label of the offending substance should always be carried to the hospital to facilitate quicker identification and prompt treatment.
To summarize, as parents and caregivers, we have a responsibility to ensure our children’s safety.
This entails being more alert and keeping potentially hazardous substances away from them, because a safe house is a healthy home.
Acquiring some first-aid knowledge and abilities can also be quite useful in a crisis. It all starts and ends with you.
Dr Mokaya is the Medicines Information and Formulary Pharmacist at Gertrude’s
Children’s Hospital.
