Mom’s Purse May Hold Hidden Dangers for Kids

By Amy Norton        
       HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hectic moms and dads routinely things their purses and bags with every merchandise their loved ones may well need for the working day. But that makes a minefield of choking and poisoning dangers for infants and toddlers, pediatricians warn.

A purse, backpack or diaper bag can contain a hodgepodge of prescription drugs and supplements, cosmetics, hand sanitizers, candy, coins and other things that bring in minor palms. That can also set the stage for mishaps, at times lethal.

“Young little ones are all inquisitive explorers,” explained Dr. Eric Owen Tyler, a pediatrician and govt board member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Alabama Chapter. “And mom’s purse is like a gold mine.”

Tyler explained that over the program of his career, he has witnessed toddlers who have swallowed iron capsules or agony prescription drugs, which can problems the kidneys or liver, or lead to deadly overdoses. Some have even gotten their palms on birth manage capsules.

The scenario that “seriously sticks with me,” Tyler explained, associated a two-12 months-old who managed to ingest her grandmother’s coronary heart treatment. The toddler died seven days afterwards.

Even when mom and dad are mindful of safe treatment storage in the home, bags can be neglected. Aspect of the challenge, Tyler explained, is that bags are packed and unpacked continuously, and switched out on a regular basis — and mom and dad could drop observe of what is actually inside of.

“A thing you hear a great deal is, ‘I just forgot it was in there,'” explained Dr. Elizabeth Murray, a pediatric crisis health care provider with the University of Rochester Healthcare Centre in Rochester, N.Y.

Preserving bags away from curious palms is the most secure guess. But there are also wiser methods to pack them, according to Murray.

“We always want prescription drugs to continue to be in the childproof container they came in,” she explained.

And make use of a bag’s a variety of compartments, Murray recommended. If a young youngster understands her snack or sippy cup is always in a unique spot, continue to keep it no cost of all other things she need to not contact.

Drugs are an clear chance to youngsters. But bags frequently contain other, fewer evident dangers, according to Tyler. Cosmetics — specially nail polish and hair and pores and skin care solutions — can draw kids’ interest and be swallowed or put in the eyes.

Tyler cited stats exhibiting that concerning 2002 and 2016, practically 64,700 U.S. little ones under age five landed in the crisis area for accidents similar to cosmetics.

Meanwhile, coins, breath mints, cough drops and other tiny things present a choking hazard. Coins can also problems the digestive tract, Tyler noted, as can tiny button batteries uncovered in car or truck-critical fobs.

Mother and father also need to be vigilant about any nicotine solutions, whether or not they be traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes or nicotine gum. Nicotine poisoning can make young little ones really sick, or even verify deadly.

Then there are firearms. It is really not uncommon, Tyler explained, for people to carry guns or other weapons in a bag. And in recent several years, news stories have highlighted tragic cases where by a toddler retrieved a gun from a bag and unintentionally shot himself or a person else.

Certain situations can enhance the chance to toddlers, Murray explained. One particular is all through holiday getaway gatherings, when several people are in 1 spot and it can be difficult to continue to keep observe of minor ones’ every transfer.

Murray saw a tragedy like that play out: At a neighbor’s holiday getaway social gathering, her friends’ nine-thirty day period-old came across a methadone pill that had dropped to the ground, and swallowed it with no everyone noticing.

Several hours immediately after placing her to bed that night, her mom and dad uncovered her useless. It turned out that the pill belonged to a relative who had frequented the home.

Tyler explained it is essential for all people who is about a young youngster to be mindful of what is actually in their possessions, and to continue to keep bags off the ground and out of achieve.