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21
February 2017
| VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica
A
ccidental poisoning for children has been a decade long public
health issue in Jamaica. Bleach being the main causative agent
and a product that is used daily in households makes it a likely
feature in the environment of a child (0-5years). The repeated efforts by
the Ministry of Health and CARPIN on advising parents and guardians
to put chemicals out of the reach of children stop from storing bleach
and other household cleaning chemicals in juice bottles has become a
familiar tune in the ears of many Jamaicans. But these incidents have not
stopped the behavior of parents and guardians. What would be a national
approach o accidental poisoning for children in Jamaica?
Epidemiological transition of childhood poisoning
The trend for accidental poisoning for children 0-5 years has shifted over
the past 30 years from kerosene, pesticide, pharmaceutical to
bleach being the major causative agent. There has not been
any analysis on the reason for the change but inference can
be made to change in quality of life and organizational roles.
The transition of kerosene oil for lighting to electric light in
the homes of most Jamaicans has lessen the availability
of kerosene in most homes, the enforcement of
the Pesticides Act and consistent island-wide
programmes by the Pesticides Control Authority
of Jamaica could be one of the factors for the
shift in pesticide poisoning, the pharmaceutical
industry has being playing their role in
educating parents about medication use
and storage. However the use of childproof
packages to retail medication would help to
lessen the present events with medicinal
poisoning in children.
The question that policymakers and key stakeholders should be asking
and seeking to answer is: What organized approached and policy can be
put in place to tackle the present issues with bleach poisoning by children
in Jamaica?
Public education has been the main or only programme with no structured
approach to the present situation.
Cultural practices
The buying of bleach in drums by chemical retailers and the sale of bleach
in bottles similar to that of syrup, ketchup and sodas are some of the
cultural practices for the distribution of bleach in Jamaica. This practice
has become such a norm that even in established organization it is the
common practice of janitorial or housekeeping staff to collect cleaning
agents in varied bottles which include soda bottles to carry out their daily
duties. There is no distinct difference in design and labeling for these
containers and sometimes no labels or inadequate information being
displayed.
Adults are often tricked in to mis-identity of bleach with water because of
similar packaging and storage in a food area. What then can we expect
from children?
The ability of children to open these bottles is undermined, while there is
no specific restriction to the containers such as child proof, and no specific
design to make the containers unattractive. What then do we expect these
little adventurous children to do when they pounce upon these chemicals?
Imagine for a while that you are an adventurous and explorative child
with no understanding of differentiating a substance being place in a
container that you can only associate with food.
Que:
What would be your exploring approach?
Ans:
Simple to take the content of the container and put it in your
mouth for the purpose of tasting.
Regulating Chemicals retailers
The contradiction of telling parents to desist from using
food look- alike containers, to store chemicals and
allowing chemical retailers to distribute and accept
the same containers for chemical resale has proven
to be harmful to our children. So where do we go
from here?
Regulating chemical retailers can help in changing
the behavior of Jamaicans from repackaging
household cleaning chemical in food look alike bottles (juice or drink
bottles), to purchasing chemicals in standards containers which does
not endanger the health of anyone especially our children. Household
cleaning agents that are manufactured in Jamaica should follow a
standard for packaging, labeling and distribution. This should not be left
up to the seller or buyer to determine, but should be stipulated by the
relevant regulating authority through legislations and policies to protect
the lives of our children. Regulating chemicals can be an intervention to
poison prevention in Jamaica.
Regulating chemical retailers of household
cleaning agents can help to lessen accidental
poisoning in Jamaica
By Sherika Whitelocke-Ballingsingh, Public Health Inspector
PGCT. Medical Toxicology, MPHI
The Caribbean Poison Information Network (CARPIN), UTech, Jamaica
1-888-POISONS (764-7667)