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By Marc Davis
Proctor & Gamble (P&G) has voluntarily recalled 700,000 boxes of Vicks DayQuil Cold and Flu because the packaging is not child resistant.
Although there have been no reports as yet of any accidental ingestion of the medication by children, P&G has taken the popular cold and flu medication off the market because the blister packaging in the box does not have a child-proof backing. The product is not recommended for children under 12, unless prescribed by a physician.
If the product is accidentally swallowed by a child it could cause severe physical problems and even death.
Adult consumers of the product may continue its use with no ill-effects, according to P&G. But the firm strongly warns that DayQuil should be kept away from, and out of the reach of children.
Refunds on the product, DayQuil 24-Count LiquiCaps Bonus Pack, or replacement coupons, may be obtained by calling the toll-free P&G number, 1-800-251-3374. Consumers with questions may also call the 800-number or check the Vicks Web site. The recalled DayQuil products were sold between September, 2008 and December, 2009.
Other recent recalls affecting P&G products include a November 2009 recall of 120,000 units of Vicks Sinex nasal spray contaminated with bacteria.
The accidental ingestion by children of medication intended for adults is a widespread hazard, with thousands of such incidents reported annually, some with long-lasting physical damage and occasionally fatal results.
According to a study conducted last year by the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, some 9.000 children ingested a ************ painkiller over a three-and-a-half-year period, with eight deaths and 43 life-threatening or debilitating illnesses reported.
Most of the reported ingestions, some 92 percent, occurred in the home, with two years as the average age of the child involved.
Parents and guardians are urged to store all ************ and over-the-counter medications in a securely locked cabinet out of reach of children. Also safeguard products that may not seem dangerous -- mouthwash, for example -- but which could be harmful if ingested.
Proctor & Gamble (P&G) has voluntarily recalled 700,000 boxes of Vicks DayQuil Cold and Flu because the packaging is not child resistant.
Although there have been no reports as yet of any accidental ingestion of the medication by children, P&G has taken the popular cold and flu medication off the market because the blister packaging in the box does not have a child-proof backing. The product is not recommended for children under 12, unless prescribed by a physician.
If the product is accidentally swallowed by a child it could cause severe physical problems and even death.
Adult consumers of the product may continue its use with no ill-effects, according to P&G. But the firm strongly warns that DayQuil should be kept away from, and out of the reach of children.
Refunds on the product, DayQuil 24-Count LiquiCaps Bonus Pack, or replacement coupons, may be obtained by calling the toll-free P&G number, 1-800-251-3374. Consumers with questions may also call the 800-number or check the Vicks Web site. The recalled DayQuil products were sold between September, 2008 and December, 2009.
Other recent recalls affecting P&G products include a November 2009 recall of 120,000 units of Vicks Sinex nasal spray contaminated with bacteria.
The accidental ingestion by children of medication intended for adults is a widespread hazard, with thousands of such incidents reported annually, some with long-lasting physical damage and occasionally fatal results.
According to a study conducted last year by the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, some 9.000 children ingested a ************ painkiller over a three-and-a-half-year period, with eight deaths and 43 life-threatening or debilitating illnesses reported.
Most of the reported ingestions, some 92 percent, occurred in the home, with two years as the average age of the child involved.
Parents and guardians are urged to store all ************ and over-the-counter medications in a securely locked cabinet out of reach of children. Also safeguard products that may not seem dangerous -- mouthwash, for example -- but which could be harmful if ingested.
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