POISON PREVENTION WEEK: DRUGS ARE MOST LIKELY CULPRIT IN ACCIDENTAL POISONINGS

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Of nearly 800 reported cases of accidental poisonings in Cape Girardeau County in 1990, 46 percent were caused by accidental ingestion of prescription or non-prescription drugs by children, said the director of a poison control center.

The director, Mike Thompson of Cardinal Glennon Poison Control Center in St. Louis, said those type of accidental poisonings are also the most deadly.

"Although we see a lot of cases that involve cleaning supplies and plants, they usually don't end up being as serious," Thompson said. "Cases that involve prescription medication are the most likely to be fatal."

Anti-depressants and tranquilizers can be extremely toxic to a child, so much so that in some cases one tablet can be fatal, he said.

The Cardinal Glennon Poison Control Center covers a region that includes Cape Girardeau and surrounding counties. National Poison Prevention Week is Sunday through March 23.

In all, 777 cases of accidental poisonings were reported in Cape County in 1990. Scott County had 475 reported cases, Stoddard County 151, Perry 106, and Bollinger 105. Thompson said the majority of those cases, 82 percent, occurred in children under 5.

"It's a continual problem, something we've been able to do little about through education," he said.

Many times, the poisoning occurs when the child is away from home, at a babysitter's or grandparents' house, he said. These houses are less likely to be childproof, he said.

"One of the things parents don't concentrate on enough is things they put in their purse or things in grandma's purse," he said. "These are often things that can harm a child."

Another danger spot is the refrigerator, where medication that must be kept cool is stored. "You can't exactly lock up your refrigerator," he said.

Thompson said a peak time for accidental poisonings is when the family is in a time of upheaval; for example, during a move or right before lunch or dinner when parents may be too busy to watch young children closely.

"When you're moving, you put your medications in a box and leave the box sitting there," he said. "Your kids can reach right in."

Medications aren't the only things parents should look out for, said Thompson. Lately, the center has seen an increase in ingestions of "button batteries," the kind most commonly found in watches or hearing aids, he said.

"Now, the batteries are being found in all kinds of toys and greeting cards," he said. "They contain some very toxic metals and can cause quite a bit of harm, especially if they get lodged in the throat. They can burn a hole in the esophagus."

Thompson recommended that in case of an accidental poisoning parents should call the Poison Control hotline before taking the child to the hospital emergency room. He said a trip to the emergency room isn't always necessary. Most importantly, home remedies often need to be administered as soon as possible, he said.

Said Thompson, "For instance, if a child eats some medication we would recommend they make the child vomit to empty their stomach, which they need to do as soon as possible."

Other substances need to be handled differently. If acid is swallowed, forcing the substance back up would cause even more damage, he said.

"We recommend they don't do anything until they call us or a physician," he said. "If we advise them to go to a local hospital, we can notify the hospital that they're on their way."