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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think chemist should have used safety cap?

111 replies

Flojo1979 · 09/08/2012 22:20

So my dd (3.8) overdosed on penicillin this morning. Prescribed to her for an ear infection.
Whilst I was upstairs getting dressed, assuming she was finishing the last of her weetabix and watching peppa pig.
She was carrying her chair to the kitchen and opened the fridge, stood on chair and got her medicine out.
She then got her medicine spoon off the draining board and gave herself 3 x her usual dose.
AIBU to go to the chemist tomorrow and express my concern (nicely) that they should have used a safety cap since it was prescribed for a 3 yr old?

OP posts:
gordyslovesheep · 09/08/2012 22:22

hmmmm well yes they should

Sirzy · 09/08/2012 22:23

Perhaps they should have used a safety cap but tbh if that happened here I would start by blaming myself not someone else.

Ds is currently on antibiotics and they are stored so there is no chance of him reaching them.

PenisVanLesbian · 09/08/2012 22:27

They should have, but equally you should have kept medicines out of the reach of children. I wouldn't be complaining about anyone elses failings if I were you.

Original poster
Flojo1979 · 09/08/2012 22:28

I thought the top shelf of the fridge was no chance!
They need to be stored in the fridge so what do u suggest I should have done?
I've spent all day blaming myself, so not helpful thanx.

OP posts:
Original poster
Flojo1979 · 09/08/2012 22:28

Where should I have put it then?

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 09/08/2012 22:30

YANBU a safety cap should have been used. It's perfectly reasonable to store it in the fridge and not expect a young child to gain access and take it by herself. I used to store medicines in the fridge and non of my lot ever bothered to go in there and help themselves. You should complain tomorrow.

Original poster
Flojo1979 · 09/08/2012 22:30

Do u all have locks on your fridge just incase this moment ever arises?
Or r u too busy mollycoddling your kids so they never have the initiative to go do something for themselves?

OP posts:
FunnysInLaJardin · 09/08/2012 22:30

did she cause herself any harm? What happens when you OD in penicillin?

PenisVanLesbian · 09/08/2012 22:30

Somewhere out of their reach. They reached it, so that isn't high enough.

Sorry if you're upset but you posted if you should complain about someone elses actions when its your own that caused it too. I've been in the same position (embarassingly more than once), but it was my fault, no-one elses.

PenisVanLesbian · 09/08/2012 22:31

Watch it lady, you're the one in the wrong here. Hmm

Sirzy · 09/08/2012 22:31

Hidden away at the back of the fridge. Or don't leave her for so long, the process you said she went through must have taken a good while for her to do.

These things happen, write it off as experince I am sure you will be more careful in future.

Original poster
Flojo1979 · 09/08/2012 22:32

Thanx hidden was beginning to get upset blaming myself again.
How can I possibly watch her 24/7?
I never knew she'd do something like that.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 09/08/2012 22:32

The initiative to go and do something for themselves? That's one way of depriving a 3 year old being able to self medicare I guess!

hairylemon · 09/08/2012 22:33

If its the stuff they have to make up then the bottle comes with its own cap so not really the chemists fault.

OptimisticPessimist · 09/08/2012 22:34

YANBU. My fridge is the bottom half of the fridge/freezer, so even the very back of the top shelf is easily reachable by all 3 kids - where exactly should I put any meds requiring refridgeration? I would expect all medicine, but especially those requiring refridgeration, to have safety caps.

hiddenhome · 09/08/2012 22:35

3.8 is old enough to be left for a while. I used to store the antibiotics in the door of the fridge. Luckily, none of mine were fridge raiders, so it wasn't a problem. The OP has just been unlucky in this respect. The medicine should have a child top on to be fair.

Original poster
Flojo1979 · 09/08/2012 22:35

It was in less than 10 mins, I couldn't believe it.
penis what an apt name for someone acting like a prick.
I'm not blaming the chemist and don't intend to storm in there angry just wondered if they should have providing a safety cap and whether it would be appropriate and save some other poor parent the fear I had this morning if I got and ask them about it.

OP posts:
FunnysInLaJardin · 09/08/2012 22:35

these things do happen. DS2 came downstairs frothing pink foam at the mouth the other week. My mum who was visiting had left her sponge bag with 400 mg pack of neurofen on the bathroom floor and he had eaten one!

He was fine and had spat most of it out, but we soon moved the sponge bag out of his reach.

Viperidae · 09/08/2012 22:36

Antibiotics are sometimes not supplied in safety topped bottles as they tend to gum up the gubbins of the clik-lok thingy so it doesn't work. I remember when I worked in retail pharmacies they often went out in plain topped bottles but I'm not sure what current regulations are as I haven't worked in one for some time.

Ultimately though it is your responsibility to store the medicine safely and out of her rach.

Original poster
Flojo1979 · 09/08/2012 22:36

Ah ok hairy yes it was an add water/make up one

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 09/08/2012 22:36

Perhaps everyone should go out and buy special medicine fridges that have locks on (we have one at work) Hmm

Not all fridges are set high up above the freezer section. Not all people have large larder fridges.

ethelb · 09/08/2012 22:36

i think you had some responsibility noticing tbh. though I am surprised the chemist didn't put it in a safety cap bottle. I didn't know anything else was available!

neverquitesure · 09/08/2012 22:37

Well I don't think it's exactly the pharmacist's fault, sorry YABU. But I'm guessing you've had a horrid shock and are feeling very shitty and it's only human nature to want to shift this anger to someone else.

However, to all those saying she should have kept it out if reach. It needs to be kept refrigerated. With the exception of stacking books under the fridge and raising it to ceiling level the OP didn't really have any other option.

Accidents happen sadly. Sometimes no one is to blame you just have to learn the lessons for next time.

wigglesrock · 09/08/2012 22:38

My 4 year old has been on a different type of antibiotic for the past 3 weeks (infected throat), not one bottle has had a safety cap. I don't think I've ever had a safety cap for any medicine prescribed for the kids.

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 09/08/2012 22:38

"Watch it lady, you're the one in the wrong here. hmm"

What sort of comment is that???

Good lord. FWIW, OP, yes, medicine should have a childproof cap on it and I don't think it's unreasonable to store it in the fridge. Maybe look at a fridge lock now you know.

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