Comparison of Large and Small Child-Resistant Containers

Abstract

Two studies, a 13-month prospective survey and a clinical trial, were conducted to evaluate how children less than 5 years of age opened children's aspirin (small container) and chewable multivitamin (large container) bottles. In study one, teeth were used to open a closed children's aspirin container in greater than 50% of reported exposures compared to 5% for reported multivitamin exposures. A clinical trial (study two) revealed an interaction between the child's age and the characteristics of the container (F = 2.83, df = 6,28; P < 0.05). Larger containers were harder to open in the hands of a 23–28 month old child while smaller containers were harder to open in the 32–38 month age group. Neither container was more easily opened by children between 29 and 31 months of age. These results suggest that container characteristics and a child's age are both variables which may influence future poison prevention activities.