Keeping medicine accessible to elderly folks but out of toddlers' reach? Talk amongst yourselves.

A Parenthacker asks:

I'm living with my father who needs to have nitro tabs around in case he has another heart attack. They are the most un-toddler-proof thing in the universe, and potentially catastrophic for a 2 year-old. I have Googled with no success on finding a childproofing hack that will thwart a very nimble toddler, but allow an old man pretty instant access to his nitro. Thoughts?

I take it the childproof cap on the prescription bottle is too difficult for your father to manipulate? In that case, my thought is for your father to carry his medicine around in a small fanny pack so it's always with him, but out of reach of your child.

Other ideas?

Comments

[shari]

Actually, it's required to keep nitroglycerin tabs in a non-childproof container, because of the instant access needed. They are dispensed by the pharmacy in a small bottle about an inch tall with a regular screw top. Looks like something that'd be at home in a Barbie kitchen, so I can see the concern about toddlers.

What about fashioning some sort of lanyard attachment so your father can carry the nitro with him everywhere, and know it's away from small hands? If you sew, you could make a small amulet-type bag to put the bottle in. Also you can ask your pharmacist for advice, he/she might have a ready solution.

[teri]

I knew someone who had to keep nitro with him at all times. He found a rather attractive metal vial that was worn on chain around his neck. It was designed for that specific purpose. It only held a few pills, but that is all one really needs at a moment's notice anyway. Here is one I just found on Google: http://www.healthaccessories.com/pill_boxes/nitroglycerine_pill_cases.htm I put in "nitro + necklace." I am sure there are many others available. I would also ask his doctor and/or pharmacist.

[Christy]

Necklaces are probably your best bet.

Now might be a good time to remind everyone about Mr. Yuk:

http://www.mryuk1.com/

I printed out my own version and put them on everything I didn't want my 2 & 4 year old to touch and so far (6 months later) it's still working. They know they'll get in trouble if they even look at something with a Mr. Yuk sticker on it.

[Gretchen]

Christy - thanks for the Mr. Yuk link ... I had forgotten all about him, and after The Carpet Cleaner Incident, we need something like this. I just made my own sheet of the logos that I can tape onto the offending bottles. Let's hope that works!

[kittenpie]

We like those magnetic childproofing locks in our house - very easy and quick and non-fiddly to open, but still childproof as long as the magnet is close by but not obvious.

[Carly]

My grandpa (who spends much of his time with young children around him) has his nitro in a small screw-top container container that he wears on a chain around his neck, under his clothes. It is always available if he needs it and the kids can't get to it.