Keeping Children Safe: Prevention and Management of Accidental Poisoning in Children

Background: Accidental poisoning in children is a common but preventable occurrence. In 2013-14, in the UK, almost 150,000 hospital admissions were due to poison exposure. Thankfully mortality is rare, however injury is still the leading cause of death in children, of which poisoning is the third most common mechanism.

Objective: The aim of this project was to reduce incidence of accidental poisoning in children in an accident and emergency department and improve pre-hospital and immediate hospital management.

Methods: Firstly this project reviewed relevant literature on accidental poisoning in children, in particular focussing on epidemiology, looking at the age groups most commonly affected and the most common and most lethal substances ingested, and also the optimum pre-hospital management. This information was then used to devise a resource for parents, accessible to all, that advises on how to prevent accidental poisoning and what to do if this occurs. The relevance, usefulness and accessibility of this leaflet was audited, relevant adjustments made and the leaflet implemented. Suggestions were also made as to how doctors could aid in the prevention of accidental poisoning and how management could be improved both in the pre-hospital setting and in immediate hospital management.

Results: The results showed that more could be done to prevent accidental poisoning in children and parents felt a lack of understanding about how to prevent accidental poisoning and what to do if it occurred. Our audit showed that our leaflet was able to provide parents with useful information and increase their understanding in these areas.

Conclusion: In conclusion, our study highlighted numerous areas in which accidental poisoning could be prevented or managed more effectively and a leaflet devised and suggestions made to rectify this. This could be implemented more widely across the UK and Europe and with the translation of the leaflet into other languages.