PUBLICITY NO HELP

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30342, 18 January 1964, Page 17

PUBLICITY NO HELP

More Children “Poisoned” “Not only has the publicity failed to reduce the numbers, but it has become clear that among some mothers, it has produced what almost amounts to panic,” says the director of out-patient services at the Christchurch Hospital (Dr. W. I. Paterson) in a letter to the editor of “The Press,” advising that in future, figures and other information relating to the accidental poisoning of children will not be released.

“Two years ago, when you began to give publicity to this problem, I had high hopes that drawing the attention of parents to the hazards might bring about a reduction in the number of children who are brought into the casualty department after swallowing some poisonous household substance,” says Dr. Paterson. “It has been most disappointing to find that this publicity has not had any effect from the prevention aspect and that in fact the numbers have increased

“During 1963 288 children were treated by the department for accidental poisonings and 60 per cent of these were admitted to the children’s ward for further observation and treatment. “Children have been brought to hospital recently as cases of possible poisoning, without the slightest evidence that they have swallowed any toxic substance of any kind. Because the campaign has certainly failed its objective, and because it may even be doing harm, it seems inadvisable to continue,” says Dr. Paterson.