The Child Health Directorate of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi has since the start of the year recorded more than 23 cases of home accidents with four deaths, doctors have said.

The victims were aged between one to six-and-a half years.

These accidents mainly involved swallowing poisonous chemicals like DDT, chlorine bleach, kerosene, caustic soda, turpentine and others.

Dr Anthony Enimil, a pediatrician and Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Unit, told the Ghana News Agency that the incidents were on the high side.

“It is a big worry because these could easily be prevented when parents become more vigilant and keep such chemicals safe and far from the reach of the kids,” he advised.

He appealed to parents to stop refilling such dangerous substances into empty Voltic plastic bottles and bottles of soft drinks.

“Children in that age group for various reasons of naivety and others get deceived by their appearance and accidentally drink them”, he said.

Asked about the chances of survival of victims, Dr Enimil said, it all depended on the level of toxicity and the quantity of the substance ingested.

He, however, added that the survival rate was “very high if victims are sent immediately to a health facility for treatment”.

He said it was dangerous for parents to give palm oil to victims to induce vomiting because that could worsen the case by choking and making them breathless.

Dr Enimil said victims should always be brought to hospitals along with the original containers of the chemical ingested to give clues for effective treatment.