Administrative Policy Change for Syrup of Ipecac in First Aid Kits Used in Clark County Child Care Centers and Family Care Homes

The Southern Nevada Health District Regulations Governing the Sanitation of Child Care Facilities (Adopted August 22, 2002), Section 4.4.2 (l) requires an “Un-expired bottle of Syrup of Ipecac that is only administered following instructions from a poison control center or physician” to be included in the first aid kit of a child care facility.

According to November 2003 issue of Pediatrics, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), “In a new policy statement, ‘Poison Treatment in the Home,’ the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that syrup of ipecac no longer be used routinely as a home treatment strategy… The policy urges that instead of having ipecac on hand, pediatricians should tell parents to post the universal phone number for poison control… The parents should call 9-1-1 in the case of convulsions, cessation of breathing or unconsciousness.”

In the interest of good public health, this Administrative Policy is effective immediately and supercedes The Southern Nevada Health District Regulations Governing the Sanitation of Child Care Facilities (adopted August 22, 2002), Section 4.4.2, PDF 326KB until the Regulations can be updated.