Safe handling of hazardous medicines at home. Dissolving and giving whole tablets.
This video will show you how to dissolve and give whole tablets of hazardous medicine 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. If your child cannot swallow tablets, you can prepare them as a liquid. One of the most
important things to remember is that you do not crush hazardous medicine tablets. Instead you will
prepare the medicine as a liquid using an oral syringe. 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 dissolve
tablets you will also need, an oral syringe to mix and give the medicine, a medicine cup to hold
the water used to dissolve the tablets, tweezers to pick up the medicine, room temperature water
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. Pour some of the room temperature water into the medicine cup. Do not use
other drinks such as juice or cola. You will use the oral syringe to dissolve the tablets and give
your child the liquid medicine. An oral syringe has three parts: plunger, cap, and barrel. To prepare the
syringe, remove the cap, then remove the plunger from the syringe. Open the medicine bottle and
using the tweezers take out the number of tablets needed for your child's dose. Place the tablets
into the barrel of the syringe, then replace the plunger. Put the lid back on the medicine bottle
as soon as possible. Place the syringe into the cup of room temperature water. Pull the
plunger up to draw water into the barrel. Draw five to seven and a half mils into the syringe.
Put the cap back onto the syringe. Gently rock the syringe back and forth until you no longer see any
big pieces of the tablet. This may take several minutes. You may see small particles floating in
the water. This is okay as the tablet does not dissolve completely. Just make sure that there
are no large chunks that may clog the syringe. To give the medicine to your child, remove the cap
place the oral syringe into their mouth, and slowly push the plunger to release the medicine.
Make sure to give your child the dose right away. Never prepare and store the dose ahead of time.
if any medicine is left in the syringe, draw more water, gently rock the syringe back and forth and
give the medicine to your child. Your child may drink more water after taking their medicine.
Your child's healthcare provider will tell you if your child may take any other drinks or food.
Speak to your healthcare provider if your child is having trouble taking the medicine.
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 healthcare provider.