Child-Resistant Packaging

Child-resistant (CR) packaging, called Poison Prevention Packaging (PPP) in the USA, may be defined as a packaging that makes access to the contents by children under 5 years of age difficult, while permitting adults to have access to the contents. The contents in question are substances such as drugs, cleaning agents, pesticides and other poisonous materials. All medicines are potentially dangerous if children, who are naturally inquisitive, gain access to them. Consequently, steps have to be taken to prevent this. Obviously, all medication is best kept out of reach of children, preferably under lock and key, and to this end public education of parents and other adults has been attempted but it can never be completely effective. Nevertheless, proper labelling and information is important to the safe use of medicines. The Euro label for medicines (Figure 8.1) was devised for that purpose.