Mon Sep 16 15:30:00 UTC 2024: ## St. Louis Children’s Hospital Offers Free Lockboxes to Prevent Child Suicides and Poisonings
**ST. LOUIS** – In response to the alarming rise in child suicide and poisoning deaths, St. Louis Children’s Hospital is distributing 1,000 free lockboxes to patients at risk. These secure containers, large enough to hold medications or even firearms, aim to prevent accidental or intentional ingestion of potentially harmful substances.
The initiative, funded by a grant from the St. Louis Health Department, will offer lockboxes to families visiting the emergency department with children experiencing behavioral health crises or accidental poisonings.
Dr. Lindsay Clukies, an emergency medicine physician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, highlights the importance of lockboxes in protecting children who may be at risk of self-harm or accidental ingestion.
The program comes as Missouri grapples with a significant increase in poisoning deaths among children under 18. The state’s latest child fatality review report revealed a staggering jump from an average of 11 poisoning deaths annually to 62 in 2022, a more than fourfold increase.
Fentanyl, a potent opioid often laced into illegal drugs, played a role in many of these deaths. The drug, even in small doses, can be fatal to children.
The hospital is also addressing the rising number of child suicides, which increased from 35 to 42 between 2020 and 2022.
“That is unacceptable,” said Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, St. Louis Director of Health. “We are pleased to work with St. Louis Children’s Hospital to provide another way for parents to keep their children safe while preventing unnecessary injuries and deaths.”
This lockbox program builds upon the hospital’s 2020 initiative to provide free gun locks to families, which has now expanded to 20 locations across the BJC HealthCare system.
Health officials hope this new program will be successful and will also expand. They encourage families to educate themselves about preventing poisonings, identifying overdose symptoms, and responding to emergencies.
The hospital stresses the importance of keeping medications locked away, being aware of potential dangers in family and friends’ homes, and disposing of old medications properly.
This program is a crucial step in protecting children and preventing tragedy. By providing families with these safety tools, St. Louis Children’s Hospital aims to create a safer environment for our youngest and most vulnerable citizens.
First Piper 