Table 2 Characteristics of poisoning incidents
Variable | Category | N (%) |
|---|---|---|
Child demographics | ||
Age | 1 year | 4 (44) |
2 years | 4 (44) | |
3 years | 1 (11) | |
Sex | Male | 7 (78) |
Female | 2 (22) | |
Developmental aspect of the event | ||
Child was doing something the mother didn’t know the child could do yet | Yes | 4 (44) |
No | 5 (56) | |
Child was doing something the mother had previously told the child not to do | Yes | 3 (33) |
No | 6 (67) | |
Child was doing something the mother knew the child could do, but had never seen the child try to do before | Yes | 2 (22) |
No | 7 (78) | |
Supervision preceding the event | ||
Adult was in same room as child when the poisoning event occurred* | Yes | 1 (11) |
No | 8 (89) | |
Substance type, use and storage | ||
Type of substance accessed | Medicinal | 4 (44) |
Non-medicinal | 5 (56) | |
Type of packaging | Bottle with child-resistant cap | 4 (44) |
Blister pack | 1 (11) | |
Other type of packaging | 4 (56) | |
Substance used in last 24 hours | Yes | 3 (33) |
No | 5 (56) | |
Not applicable | 1 (11) | |
Substance accessed in location that was <1.4 m from ground* | Yes | 8 (89) |
No | 1 (11) | |
Substance was in its usual place of storage when accessed | Yes | 2 (22) |
No | 7 (77) | |
Mother felt that the usual place of storage for the substance accessed was inaccessible to child | Yes | 5 (56) |
No | 4 (44) | |
Treatment | ||
Caregiver called for advice prior to presenting to hospital | Yes, PIC | 6 (67) |
Yes, other | 2 (22) | |
No | 1 (11) | |
Child had symptoms associated with poisoning | Yes | 3 (33) |
No | 6 (67) | |
Patient disposition | Treated in ED and discharged | 6 (67) |
Admitted for treatment as inpatient in ED | 3 (33) |