Caps off to safety

Nursing, Nov 2001 by Cohen, Michael R

ADMINISTERING LIQUIDS

A 5-month-old infant was asphyxiated when his father tried to administer a suspension of the antibiotic cefpodoxime (Vantin) using a 3 ml parenteral syringe. The father was able to insert the capped syringe tip into the medication bottle and draw medication into the syringe-even with the cap in place. When he placed the syringe tip into the infant's mouth and pushed the plunger, the cap flew off and lodged in the child's airway. The infant was taken to the hospital but died.

Hypodermic syringes should never be used to administer liquid medications. Their small, translucent caps are easily overlooked and can be inadvertently left in place.

Tell parents to use only measuring cups or oral syringes, which typically have colored and shaped caps to make them easily visible. Remind them to remove the cap before drawing up or administering a liquid to the child.