Parents relying far too much on Calpol
It has been highlighted that many parents are far too quick in administering Calpol to their children. With many children being given this paracetamol based medicine more frequently this could lead to other health issues, possibly developing asthma and damage to the kidneys, liver and heart.
Administering Calpol to children is easily done, and for many parents, this is deemed as doing the right thing, when in fact, this may be the wrong thing. As children develop a fever, many parents deem this as an illness and administer Calpol. Educating parents on when to administer Calpol would be more effective, preventing children from being given excessive amounts of paracentral based medication.
It is suggested that Calpol shouldn’t be used to treat a mild fever which is 37.5C to 38C. It should only be administered if children develop other signs.
With many children attending childcare providers, there is always the worry that children are being given Calpol at home or with grandparents and then being given it at the nursery. It is paramount that there is a procedure in place to prevent this from happening. It is also recommended that providers communicate with parents about how long children have been on this medicine at home, this is to ensure children are not on this medication for longer than they should be.
What is your procedure in administering Calpol in your setting?
This is why we had a policy and wouldn’t give any medicen for a temputer unless it was 38C or above. Alot of staff would argue that a temputer was before this, it not just parent that need education alot of nursery staff do to.
Unless a child was ill and we need to keep a temputer down, we would give Calpol every 4 hours. But by this point we be saying they shouldn’t really be at in. We also would refuse to give a child Calpol after 3 days, or except a child that needed it for longer than 3 days unless they had been to the Dr as this it what it says on the box to.
I agree, so many times parents dose up their children to disguise they are unwell only for them to be poorly at the setting ( and possibly infecting other children & staff ). I think it should only be available on prescription