What is Child Resistant Packaging?
Before we even dive into how child-resistant medicine boxes help in keeping children safe, we first need to learn what this packaging actually is. As the name suggests, child-resistant packaging is packaging that children younger than 52 months cannot open. However, this packaging can be easily opened by adults and older people. In 1978, nearly 15,000 children admitted to the hospital after accidental poisoning, but the fatal consequences were very rare. During the last 20 years, the deaths and such cases of accidentally taking medicines have significantly reduced. Today, medicine packaging manufacturers are well aware of the fact that inadvertently consuming pills or any poison can be life-threatening. It is the reason why they are coming up with better and improved child-resistant packaging.
This packaging is divided into types that are reclosable and non-reclosable. Reclosable packs are those packs that are once being opened, have the capability of being reclosed again with a similar degree of security. The typical examples of such packaging are a push and turn, a two-piece moulding, and line up the arrow packaging. Non-recloseable packaging, on the other hand, is a type of child-resistant packaging that once initially opened, cannot be closed back appropriately. A few common examples of non-reclosable packaging includes blister packs and strip packs.
Child-resistant packaging is typically made from plastic or has a high plastic content. When it comes to reclosable packages, they may include a glass container, whereas blister packs often have a backing of a paperboard or aluminum foil. However, plastic, PVC, PP, HDPE, and LDPE are the most materials used in the manufacturing of child-resistant medicine packaging. Now that we know what is child-resistant packaging is, it is time to learn how this actually keeps them away from accidentally ingesting medicine of any type – be it a liquid, powder, or any solid pharmaceutical. If you are interested in learning about them, be sure to read this article till the end!
How it Help in Keeping Kids Safe?
From the past 40 years, child-resistant packaging has proved to be a lifesaver that prevents less severe but worrying ingestions by kids. Regulatory authorities do not just recognize this packaging worldwide, but also bodies such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF acknowledge such type of packaging.
Opening Mechanism is Tough
As mentioned above in this article, in the past, thousands of children were taken to the hospital because they ingested medicines or poisons. Why so? The main reason has to be curiosity. Kids are always curious to touch, hold, and learn about everything around them, where medicine boxes are no exception. You must be familiar with child-resistant lids on medications that involve both applying the downward pressure and twisting the cap at the same time to open the container. This is probably by far the most recognized type of child-resistant opening mechanism but is definitely not the only option.
Child-resistant medicine boxes are designed in such a way that only adults can understand the mechanism of opening the packaging. Apart from the product itself, the folding carton must comply with CR packaging guidelines and prevent child access. These guidelines clearly state that CR packaging must be tough to open for kids under the age of five, while still being relaxed enough for adults to open easily. Therefore, this makes sure that children that are 5 years old or younger never figure out the way of opening such medicine boxes.
Reduced Risk of Ingestion
Every year, hundreds of such cases are reported where children swallow pharmaceuticals that are mostly non-fatal but still can be very dangerous. Many parents make the mistake of referring to medicine as candy or juice. This probably makes them try when nobody is around, and they get their business hands on liquid or solid pharmaceuticals. Well, we cannot blame kids for ingesting pills or tablets because let’s be real; we all used to think that pills or tablets were candy.
Child-resistant makes sure that even if kids confuse medicine with candy or juice and try to gulp it, they can never make it to the actual drug. This packaging is specifically designed and constructed to reduce the risk of kids ingesting possibly hazardous pharmaceuticals by creating an additional barrier for protection. Such packaging makes it very challenging for children to open and swallow drugs or dangerous things.
Conclusion
After the implementation of the PPPA in the 1970s, there has been a substantial decrease in mortalities among young children from unintentional poisonings, any many lives have been saved. There is no denying that child-resistant packaging has a considerable role to play in keeping children away from swallowing medicine of all types. Whether it is any liquid pharmaceutical or solid, this packaging makes sure to reduce of accidental ingestion by kids who are five years old or less. However, there is still so much more that needs be done to remove even the slight bit of chances of ingesting medicines or poisonous things.
