The press release was based on the study that Dr. Bond did on the pediatric pharmaceutical poisoning. The point of view the piece was written from was as a scientist who wants to release information on their recent findings that was just published in a scientific journal. The purpose of the press release is to reach the public with the news and information from the study. Writing the press release was an activity that I feel will be extremely beneficial to promoting myself and my accomplishments. In the future, when I have made discoveries from research projects or studies I will be able to easily reach the public by writing my own press release.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
G. Randall Bond
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
513-636-2744 phone
513-636-7967 fax
randall.bond@cchmc.org
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/
Dr. Bond Discovers Conditions Contributing to Pediatric Medication Poisonings
Cincinnati, OH, July 26, 2011 — Dr. G. Randall Bond studied data of children under 5, between 2001-2008; to determine which pharmacy medications contributed to emergency visits, admissions, and injuries involved in pediatric poisoning, as well as whether it was due to child self-ingestion or a therapeutic error.
The patient records were obtained from the National Poison Data System of the American Association of Poison Control. The highest exposure to pharmaceuticals lies in child self-ingestion to prescription products, which contributed to 55% of the emergency department visits. Medications contributing to deaths from self-exposure are, opioid analgesics and cardiovascular agents. The therapeutic errors from OTC acetaminophen and cold and cough medication, only contributed to 1.2% of emergency department visits, making therapeutic error a very small contributor to pediatric emergency department visits.
The advice that Dr. Bond gives, in regards to stunting the rapid increase of pediatric poisoning from pharmaceuticals, are expressed in the discussion of the journal article, “Storage devices and child-resistant closures may need to improve. Additionally, mechanical barriers to ingestion such as blister packs may be required for more substances. Preventive efforts should also address appropriate prescribing and society’s problem with opioid and sedative abuse.”
The following were key findings:
· Annually, more than 500,000 children aged 5 and under are exposed to potentially poisoning pharmaceuticals
· Annually, more than 50,000 seek emergency department care from pharmaceutical poisoning
· Pediatric medication poisoning is increasing, and the major contributors are from opioid analgesics, cardiovascular agents, and sedative-hypnotics
“As of 2005, ED visits by young children for medication poisonings exceeded those for motor vehicle occupant injuries.” By securing medication containers and locking them up somewhere out of reach from a child, as well as limiting the amount of prescription medications in a household will help spearhead a decline in the amount of pediatric poisonings.
Dr. G. Randall Bond is a Professor at the University of Cincinnati, and he is the Medical Director of the Cincinnati Drug and Poison Information Center. His research consists of, poisoning of adults and children and bioterrorism.
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References
Cincinnati Children's. <http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/svc/alpha/e/emergency/fs/fac/randall-bond.htm>.
G. Randall Bond, Randall W. Woodward, Mona Ho. The Growing Impact of Pediatric Pharmaceutical Poisoning.The Journal of Pediatrics, 2011; DOI:10.1016/j.jpeds.2011.07.042