Safe handling of hazardous medicines at home. Giving cut tablets.
This video will show you how to cut and give hazardous medicine tablets safely. Always follow
these safe handling methods to provide the best protection for you and your family during your
child's treatment. Sometimes people who care for patients must handle hazardous medicines.
Hazardous medicines can treat a variety of medical conditions. For instance,
chemotherapy treats cancer and immunosuppressants prevent organ rejection after a transplant.
Ask your healthcare provider if your child's medicine requires safe handling.
Hazardous medicines can damage healthy cells, so they must be handled safely.
The risk of harm from handling hazardous medicines is small, but it's still a good
idea to avoid direct contact with them, this includes not tasting your child's medicine,
and if possible, avoid contact with hazardous medicines if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
You will need to gather certain supplies and take careful steps when setting up your work area.
Your child's healthcare provider will help you make a list of the supplies you will need.
You can buy these materials at a grocery or drugstore.To handle your child's hazardous medicine at home,
choose an uncluttered counter or table away from windows, fans, vents, areas where you prepare food
and where children and pets play. Depending on how you prepare your child's medicine, your supplies
may include: paper towels or a disposable absorbent plastic-backed mat to contain any spills,
a disposable gown to protect you and your clothing, a disposable mask, gloves to minimize direct contact
with the medicine. To cut tablets you will also need a plastic bag for waste disposal,
a medicine cup to hold cut tablets, tweezers to pick up the medicine, a tablet cutter, also called
a pill-splitter, a suitable drink to mix with the medicine, and lastly your child's medicine.
Always prepare the medicine right before your child will take it. Before you begin, wash your
hands with soap and water. Put on your gloves and place paper towels or a disposable, absorbent
plastic-backed mat over the counter surface. You are now ready to handle your child's medicine.
Put on your gown and mask. Open the tablet cutter then open the medicine bottle and remove the
required number of tablets using the tweezers. Place the tablet in the medicine cup or the tablet
cutter. Put the lid back on the medicine bottle as soon as possible. Using the tweezers, place a
tablet into the tablet cutter. If the tablet has a score mark, line this up with the blade of the
tablet cutter. Close the tablet cutter and press down firmly. Place the portion of the tablet to be
taken into the medicine cup. When you are done, use the tweezers to return the remaining tablet pieces,
from the tablet cutter to the original medicine bottle. You can use this piece for your child's
next dose. Only cut as many tablets as you need at one time. If any tablet pieces are not intact,
place them in a container or plastic bag clearly marked for disposal of hazardous medicines.
If your child can swallow the cut tablet, give them their medicine with an approved drink. Make sure
your child washes their hands first, takes their dose as directed, and washes their hands afterwards.
If your child cannot swallow tablets, please watch the video about preparing tablets as a liquid.
Hazardous medicines should be handled safely. It's important to carefully handle the cleanup
of the supplies and work area and to dispose of wastes properly. All disposable items that have
been in contact with the hazardous medicines, such as the used paper towels and gloves, must go into a
designated plastic waste bag or container. Dispose of this plastic bag at a hazardous waste depot.
You may wash and reuse some of your supplies, but take care not to rinse them in the kitchen
sink over other dishes or utensils. If you are reusing an item, such as the medicine
cup, rinse with warm soapy water and let it air dry.Clean the sink after washing your supplies.
Always store hazardous medicines away from children and pets. If stored at room temperature,
place them in a locked box away from moisture and direct sunlight and in a cool, dry place.
If the medicine needs refrigeration, place it in a separate container at the back of the fridge.
Return the medicine to the locked box or fridge after each use. Do not keep any medicine in your
purse, knapsack, or diaper bag. Some of the medicine may be present in your child's
vomit, urine, and stool. It is important to handle these safely as well. When changing your child's
diaper, wear disposable gloves and place diapers in a separate, sealed plastic bag before disposal.
If your child is toilet trained, have your child close the lid and flush twice after using the
toilet. And then have them wash their hands. If your child's clothing or sheets are soiled with
vomit, urine, or stool, wash them separately from other laundry. If you can't wash them right away,
place them in a sealed plastic bag and set them aside. Once you are all finished, wash your hands.
Remember these key tips for safe handling of hazardous medicines at home.
If possible, avoid contact with hazardous medicines if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Wash your hands before and after handling hazardous medicines.
Wear gloves when handling hazardous medicine tablets, capsules, or liquids.
Properly clean, dispose or store the equipment and hazardous medicine.
For more information on these tips, speak to your health care provider.
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