HEALTHYKIDSHOME

 Christmas is here again. There will be a lot to eat and drink for most children. Friends and family will come visiting. There will be outdoor events that our children may attend. The kids must enjoy. It’s been a long year. However, in order not to turn the merry making into something unpleasant, we must take steps to ensure that our children are safe as they make merry during this festive season. Here are a few things to note as a parent or guardian. You must check the expiry dates of all edibles that are supposed to have expiry dates on them. Ensure they are not expired. Examine canned products and look for punctures, rust, or dents. It is better to avoid those ones. They may have germs or toxins in them. If your children must go to a party or a park, do your research. Ensure the place will be safe for them. Go with them if you can, or be sure there is a trusted adult who will ensure their safety while they are having fun. Children can be kidnapped during such events or can...

 

Swallowing a poisonous substance can happen in children. Especially in children under six years. At this age, most c hildren are curious and would like to explore. They are however, not matured enough to adequately differentiate between harmful and harmless substances. Children explore their environment using all their senses. They use the sense of taste, touch, smell, hearing and sight in their exploration. In the process, they can accidentally swallow poisonous substances. Below are a few dos and don’ts for caregivers/parents in the event of poisoning in a child. DOS Act quickly. Get the poison away from the child or move child away from the source of poison. If there is poison in the mouth and the child can spit, tell him/her to spit it out. Alternatively, if you can remove it from the mouth with your finger, do so. Do it gently. Be careful you don’t push it further down or cause the child to vomit. Remove the child’s clothes if the poison got poured on them. Wash off any remaining...

  In 2004, it was estimated that 346,000 people in the world died from accidental poisoning. 91% of this occurred in the low- and middle-income countries. About 90% of all poisoning happen in the home. In the USA, 374 children are seen at the emergency room every day on account of poisoning and 2 of them die. Poison comes hidden in so many products. Some of these are normal cleaning agents and medication which are not to be taken by children. Poisoning in children is seen predominantly in children under 6 years and mostly, in males. A study done in KATH from January 2007   to January 2012 revealed a total of 253 children reporting to the hospital with poisoning over the period. The male to female ratio was 1.58: 1. The median age was 2 years and kerosene poisoning was the leading cause. Epidemiology of pediatric poisoning reporting to a tertiary hospital in Ghana. D. Ansong, et al. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders and mental retardation are also at an increased r...