January 2003 Seafordgram

Syrup of ipecac

Syrup of ipecac has been a staple in home medicine cabinets and recommended by pediatricians for years to induce vomiting in accidental poisonings. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recently recommended it no longer be used. They believe there is no evidence that vomiting helps children who ingest something poisonous. Emergency rooms now use activated charcoal in poisonings as it binds to the poison and prevents it from entering the bloodstream. Research also has linked the misuse of syrup of ipecac to bulimia and anorexia.

Prevention is the best defense against poisoning. Potential poisons should be kept locked out of sight and reach. Replace child-proof caps immediately after use, keep all products in their original containers, and discard all old medications. Never refer to medicine as "candy".

If your child does accidentally swallow a potential poison, immediately call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 (a toll free nationwide number with experts available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Call 9-1-1 if the child is having convulsions, stops breathing or loses consciousness.

So please clean out your medicine cabinet to start the new year and not only discard all out dated medications, but throw out your syrup of ipecac by flushing it down the toilet and throwing away the container.

Cough Drops at School

It's cough and cold season and the question arises about the use of cough drops in school. Cough drops with active ingredients such as Cepacol, Sucrets, Vicks, Chloroseptic, Robitussin Liqui-center, etc. that are to given at specific time intervals or have a maximum dose within 24 hours need to be treated as over-the-counter medications and kept in the clinic with written parental permission. Non-medicated cough drops such as Ludens, Halls, etc. may also be kept in the clinic or may be carried by a student only with a parent's written request and the understanding that the responsibility of consumption of the cough drops belongs to the parent and child, not the teacher, nurse, or school. Cough drops can be a choking hazard and the safety of our students is our top priority. Also carrying cough drops is a privilege, which can be revoked if the child demonstrates any irresponsible behavior with them or shares them with classmates.

Comments and Suggestions

YCSD