Jeff Robinson Manager, Victorian Poisons Information Centre (VPIC) Emergency Department Austin Hospital Victoria

Transcription

1 Jeff Robinson Manager, Victorian Poisons Information Centre (VPIC) Emergency Department Austin Hospital Victoria VPIC What we do Risk assessment and management advice to members of the public and health professionals - accidental exposures, workplace exposures, overdoses, envenomations, therapeutic errors - all routes: swallowed, eye, skin, inhaled, injected, bites/stings 40,000 calls annually exposure breakdown: 70% accidental (mainly paediatric) 15% therapeutic error 13% intentional/deliberate overdose 2% workplace acute 1

2 VPIC What we do (cont d) Co-located with the Austin Hospital Clinical Toxicology Service Contact number Some nasties on the farm Only the dose makes the poison. Attributed to Paracelsus ( ) Herbicides, eg paraquat, MCPA, bromoxynil Pesticides, eg organophosphates Fumigants, eg aluminium/zinc phosphide (phosphine) Baits, eg 1080, strychnine Veterinary medicines and vaccines (some) Dairy cleaners (often highly acidic or alkaline) 2

3 Some nasties on the farm (cont d) Toxic alcohols, eg some model car fuels (methanol), some anti-freezes (ethylene glycol) Wild mushrooms (some) Some household items, eg medicines, batteries, lead foreign bodies, magnets, camphor mothballs, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, petrol, turps etc Poisoning prevention Better Health Channel. Farm Safety Handling Agrichemicals Store medicines and chemicals safely out of reach and out of sight of children, up high in a locked or child resistant cupboard. Do not leave medicines and chemicals unattended whilst in use. Lock up and store all herbicides, pesticides, fumigants, baits etc away from the house... 3

4 Poisoning prevention (cont d) Use medicines and chemicals safely. Read the label and/or MSDS and follow instructions for use BEFORE USING, eg do not mix cleaning agents if the label says not to Use appropriate protection when spraying, cleaning etc. Protect skin and eyes. Ensure adequate ventilation and remove any contaminated clothing immediately. Do not transfer medicines or chemicals from their original containers. Do not remove labels from containers. Poisoning prevention (cont d) Empty containers should be rinsed with water before they are thrown out. Be aware that the incidence of paediatric poisoning increases when usual household routines are disrupted, eg moving house, being on holiday, having visitors. Be aware that many poisonings often occur when a product or medicine is not in its usual storage location, when it is in use and left on a bench top or bedside table, or during transport from the shop to home. 4

5 Paediatric red flag medicines Beta blockers esp propranolol Calcium channel blockers Chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine Clonidine Colchicine Iron Lomotil Paediatric red flag medicines (cont d) Methadone Methyl salicylate liniment Opioid analgesics Quinine Street drugs Sulphonylureas Theophylline Tricyclic antidepressants 5

6 Safety with medicines Do not take other people s medicines. Always take medicines in a well lit room. Wear your glasses if you need them and follow the dosage directions. If you are unsure of the correct dose or how to take your medicines correctly, check with your pharmacist or doctor first. Take extra care if the medicine is new or if you have not taken it for a while. Safety with medicines (cont d) Establish a routine that works for you when taking your medicines, eg take after meals and mark off on the calendar when taken. Avoid distractions and interruptions when taking your medicines. Make sure you are fully awake if you are taking a medicine in the middle of the night. If you are having problems managing your medicines, speak to your pharmacist about a Dosette (or similar) container. 6

7 Safety with medicines (cont d) Do not transfer medicines from their original containers, unless into a Dosette (or similar) container. Clean out your medicine cupboard regularly. Take unwanted and expired medicines to your pharmacist for proper disposal. Do not store medicines in the refrigerator unless advised to do so by your pharmacist. Separate medicines from household products. Safety with medicines (cont d) Children tend to imitate adults, so avoid taking medicines in their presence. Refer to medicines by their proper names. They are not lollies. Visitors bags may contain medicines. Keep them well out of reach of children. 7

8 Finally Ring for advice (24/7) 8