This activity is sponsored by PDL. This information is general in nature and designed only to highlight issues for your consideration. Before acting on this information, you should consider your individual circumstances and needs, and obtain advice as appropriate.[/caption]
Risk factors for child poisoning
Communication: Effective communication between pharmacists and patients, parents and carers is vital to ensure the safe use of medicines and an awareness of the potential risks that may come with a medicine. Communication should be tailored to account for the socioeconomic, cultural, or educational background of the patient or carer. Counselling should include not only the dose, frequency and duration of therapy for medicines prescribed to children, but also information about safe storage, accessibility and disposal of that medicine. Accessibility and disposal are relevant in any situation where a child might be present.12 Pharmacists should promote the return of unused or unwanted medicines to the pharmacy for safe disposal, helping to reduce the risk of poisoning exposure.
Viknesh 
Alfred 
Eric Khek[/caption]
Krysti-Lee Patterson MPS[/caption]
Alan Polack[/caption]
Case scenario
Mrs L is an 84-year-old resident at a residential aged care facility (RACF). She has been experiencing difficulty falling and staying asleep over the past month. Staff have noted that she appears drowsy during the day and has started refusing social activities. Her current medications include sertraline 50 mg OD, paracetamol 1,000 mg QID PRN and temazepam 10 mg OD, which was recently prescribed for insomnia. Staff are concerned about her increasing confusion and risk of falls.
After reading this article, pharmacists should be able to:
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