They are practical and hygienic, and pods can contain very different products like cosmetics, drugs, biocides… But when we use one instead of the other, it can be dangerous, especially young children. ANSM has just launched an awareness campaign on the subject.
Many products are presented in the form of pods (single doses), recalls the National Agency for the Safety of Drugs and Health Products : - medicines: oxygenated water, boric acid (borax), ophthalmic eye drops… - medical devices: physiological serum (for washing the eyes and nose), lens care products… - biocides: chlorhexidine (for skin disinfection)… - cosmetics: soap (for skin cleansing)…
It is because the ANSM regularly receives reports of medication errors and the risk of medication errors related to confusion between single doses that it launches this awareness campaign. Of the error reports, more than half resulted in adverse events, 1/5 of which were considered serious.
The ANSM is therefore launching an information campaign, with the distribution of a poster offering various tips to limit the risk of confusion between single doses, and is aimed primarily at the general public, especially parents of young children. Most of the errors reported occurred at home and were carried out by parents or relatives, mainly affecting infants and children.
The ANSM also points out that health professionals have a decisive advisory role: in particular, they must ensure that the patient's parents or relatives understand how single doses are administered, and immediately report any …
