Kidsafe Victoria has called for a major overhaul of all packaging of paracetamol.

Professor Mark Stokes, Associate Professor Deakin University, and President of Kidsafe Victoria said, "Poisoning is on the top list of child accidents in the home and in the majority of cases it is not the soap powder under the sink but medicines which have been left around the home by parents."

"There is also the situation where parents are overdosing their children with the mild pain relieving drug."

In Australia three thousand seven hundred children, more than ten a day are admitted to hospital due to poisoning.

"The reality is toddlers especially identify tablets as brightly coloured lollies and do not understand the dangers of eating them."

Professor Stokes said, "Paracetamol which is used widely by parents is also one of the major areas of concern because of the packaging deficiencies".

"Like all medications which have healing capacity parents need to understand if such medications are used incorrectly or without supervision they can cause serious injury or in the worst circumstance death to small babies."

The caps on some containers are not designed to cope with the crush power of baby's teeth and blister packs are even easier to access, he said.

Kidsafe is advocating the plastic industry and Federal Government immediately overhaul the standards of packaging for paracetamol products with an aim to lifting the packaging standards by improvements in containers design and testing these appropriately.

Media Enquiries:
Kidsafe Victoria: 03 9251 7725
Ron Smith Media Communications Kidsafe Mobile: 0417 329 201