Child-resistant (CR) packaging aims to reduce the number of children accidentally ingesting dangerous household products. However, these packages don’t entirely prevent kids from opening them.
CR caps require two separate actions to open, which makes them difficult for curious kids. This type of bottle closure is often used on pharmaceuticals and vitamins. For more information about the child-resistant tablet bottle packaging, click here.
Caps
Caps are an essential part of packaging and can make or break the child-resistant capabilities of a bottle. Caps are available in many styles and can include a variety of liner options depending on the sealing needs of your product. Child-resistant caps are essential for pharmaceuticals and other household products that must be stored safely from children. These caps are mandated by law for specific chemical, pharmaceutical, industrial, and household products under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA). Using child-resistant caps can prevent tragic accidental medicine poisoning by children in the US and around the world.
However, despite child-resistant caps and putting medicines up high, sadly, many children still find ways to access dangerous products. Just this year, twin 3-year-olds climbed onto a kitchen counter. They opened a medicine bottle of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tablets in a cabinet with a child-resistant cap. They could open the bottle and take the medicine, which made them very sick. Tragically, one of the twins died.
Keeping medicines up high is essential, but a child can climb on any object to reach their favourite toy or another item. Often, it’s not possible to watch children every second. So, other strategies need to be in place. Keeping products out of reach and away from children is critical, and using child-resistant caps is vital to that strategy.
While putting medicines up high and using child-resistant caps are critical for long-term storage and safety, tamper-evident seals can help immediately. These seals can make it much harder for children to open new bottles of medicine or household cleaners, and they can be used on caps, lids, or even on the actual bottle. For more information about the child-resistant tablet bottle packaging, click here.
Blister Packs
Blister packs are a safe, effective packaging option for tablets and other over-the-counter drugs. They can help pharmaceutical companies improve child safety, product quality and medication adherence for prescription and OTC medications. In addition to their superior safety features, blister packs can help brands stand out from competitors with custom colours and designs that increase brand recognition.
While bottle closures are a good choice for some types of medications, other pharmaceuticals require special child-resistant packaging that can prevent accidental ingestion by children. Drugs like antibiotics, pain relievers and anti-depressants need F-1 safety levels that are difficult for children to open. Blister packages can meet this need and offer many other benefits that other forms of packaging cannot.
Besides their superior child-resistant design, blisters are easier to use than bottles. They do not require additional equipment or tools to open and are much less likely to confuse patients with impaired vision or other disabilities. Furthermore, blisters can be calendared to reduce medication forgetfulness by providing a snapshot of past doses, counteracting one of the main reasons for medication non-adherence.
While some manufacturers still produce pill bottles, blisters are increasingly popular due to their low cost and eco-friendly nature. Unlike traditional glass, which can leech harmful chemicals into solutions and interfere with their stability, blister packaging is made from high-quality plastic that will not contaminate pharmaceutical products or deteriorate over time. They can also be resealed and reused, minimizing storage costs and environmental waste.
PET Bottles
PET bottles are a safe and attractive packaging choice for many types of pharmaceutical and pharmacy-based products. They combine glass-like clarity with the oxygen barrier characteristics of polyethylene and can be bottled in various sizes. They are also shatter-resistant and lightweight, making them an excellent choice for shipping and handling. Additionally, PET is a recyclable plastic that can be reused.
Approximately 165 children go to emergency rooms daily for poisoning incidents, half of which are caused by medication. The good news is that most of these cases can be prevented by putting medicine in child-resistant bottles. These bottle caps are designed to delay children’s opening of a package, which increases the chance that an adult will intervene before the contents can be accessed. For more information about the child-resistant tablet bottle packaging, click here.