Bird Dog Marketing Group Leaders Proud to Participate in CDC's PROTECT Initiative Taskforce
Beth Mack • November 18, 2020
CDC's PROTECT Initiative Taskforce
We are honored to have Bird Dog Marketing Group's Co-CEOs Dave Hipple and Mark Perkins invited to participate in the CDC's PROTECT Initiative Taskforce, a collaborative coalition of medical and non-medical partners focusing on the advancements of child safety regarding medicine.
Medication overdoses continue to be a significant health problem among all ages, but children under 5 are the most vulnerable. The
PRevention of
Overdoses and
Treatment
Errors in
Children
Taskforce (PROTECT) is focusing on three initiatives: safer packaging, safer use, and safer storage.
For over 50 years, Bird Dog Marketing Group has been involved in the child-resistant package testing industry. Our company founder, Gene Miller, was involved in establishing the first protocols for child-resistant testing in 1969. Our current leadership continues to be committed to the child-resistant package industry and participating in the critical conversations occurring regarding current package safety, innovative package research, and the need to increase parents' and grandparents' education about medication safety regarding children.
The CDC's PROTECT Initiative website highlights the following:
Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Event Surveillance (NEISS-CADES) project estimates that each year in the United States:
- Approximately 50,000 emergency department (ED) visits result from unintentional medication overdoses among children under the age of 5;
- One out of every 150 two-year-olds is treated in an ED for an unintentional medication overdose;
- Over 90% of ED visits for unintentional medication overdoses among children under the age of 5 involve children who get into medicine on their own without caregiver oversight; and
- Approximately 5% of ED visits for unintentional medication overdoses among children under the age of 5 are due to medication errors. A common error is when caregivers measure and give too much medicine by mistake.
The three areas of focus include:
- Packaging improvements to prevent unsupervised ingestions of medication. One of the recent innovative packaging enhancements has been the introduction of flow restrictors for oral liquid medications. Flow adaptors limit the amount of liquid that can come out of the bottle, even if it is turned upside down or squeezed.
- Standardization of dosing measures. Develop standardization of dosing measures for liquid medication for children to reduce confusion for caregivers. These standards focus on how the dosage is displayed on the containers.
- Education on safe medication use and storage. This particular area incorporates a campaign called Up and Away and Out of Sight that focuses on actions that parents, grandparents, and caregivers can take to prevent medication overdoses in their homes. This area of focus also explores medication storage, including pill organizers, which are known to be non-child-resistant.
Collaboration among all the taskforce experts provides an opportunity to learn from experience and develop exciting initiatives to save more children from accidental poisoning. We are proud to share Bird Dog Marketing Group's experience with our PROTECT Initiative colleagues and appreciate the opportunity to participate in the essential work that needs to take place to keep children safe.
Learn more:
Bird Dog Marketing Group History (Gene Miller/Dave Hipple/Mark Perkins)
The Holidays Are Coming — Let Us Celebrate Safely!
Every year, thousands of children are rushed to emergency rooms after accidentally ingesting household products or medications that were not properly secured. The incidents are tragic—and often preventable. That is why the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA) exists. Enacted in 1970 , the PPPA requires that many everyday substances—such as prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, cleaning products, and certain chemicals—be packaged in child-resistant containers . These are designed to be difficult for young children to open, but accessible for adults. Why the PPPA Matters Before the PPPA, accidental poisonings were one of the leading causes of death among children under five years old in the United States. Since its implementation, the law has saved countless lives by dramatically reducing incidents of accidental ingestion. It is not just about compliance; it is about responsibility. Child-resistant packaging creates a crucial barrier between children's natural curiosity and potentially lethal substances. Even one oversight—one improperly packaged product—can have devastating consequences for a family. It is Not a Recommendation. It is Law! The PPPA is federal law enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) . Manufacturers, packagers, and distributors must comply with their requirements. Noncompliance can result in serious legal and financial penalties—not to mention the ethical cost of endangering public safety. Every organization involved in the manufacture or distribution of regulated products should treat PPPA compliance as non-negotiable. This includes ensuring that: All applicable products use approved child-resistant packaging. Packaging designs are tested and certified. Staff are trained in PPPA requirements. Documentation is maintained for audits or inspections. An SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for your CR testing requirements are strongly recommended. Protecting Children Is Everyone's Duty Child safety should never be taken lightly. The PPPA stands as one of the most impactful public health laws in U.S. history, and it remains just as vital today as it was over fifty years ago. Whether you work in package manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, consumer healthcare, agriculture, chemical, cannabis, retail or any industry that uses special packaging—your role in preventing accidental poisonings matters. Compliance is not optional. It is the law , and more importantly, it is a commitment to protecting the most vulnerable among us. If you have any questions regarding child-resistant packaging and how to meet child-resistant package regulations - call Bird Dog Marketing Group LLC at 717-615-9022 or email sales@birddogmarketinggroup.com. Bird Dog Marketing Group is an international industry leader in Child Resistant (CR) and Senior Adult Use Effectiveness (SAUE) protocol testing. For over 55 years, we have been providing comprehensive research and testing services and have a record of success in safety and child-resistant package testing. We have tested and evaluated thousands of different package types, including unit dose packages, pouches, bottles, and containers with a variety of closures, aerosol cans, pump dispensers and more. Our team provides an assurance of accuracy and hyper-focused attention to detail for all package testing.
Our Commitment to Quality and Innovation
Since 1969, Bird Dog Marketing Group has emerged as a global leader in child-resistant (CR) package testing.
As e-commerce continues to surge, the importance of child-resistant packaging has never been more critical.
The Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA), enacted in 1970, is one of the cornerstones of child safety regulations in the United States. Its primary goal is to prevent children from accessing hazardous household substances like medications, household chemicals, and other toxic products. As part of this initiative, the law requires certain products to be packaged in child-resistant containers. The question is: how did the government determine the specific age ranges of children who should be tested for these packaging requirements?
The Poison Prevention Packaging Act: A Milestone in Child Safety
Dispelling the Myth: Why There is No Such Thing as Child-Proof Packaging. In the realm of product safety, particularly concerning items like medications, household cleaners, and chemicals, the term "child-proof packaging" is commonly used. However, despite its widespread usage, the concept of truly child-proof packaging is a misnomer. We will delve into why there's no such thing as completely child-proof packaging and what measures can be taken to enhance child safety.
Every year, thousands of children under the age of five face serious health risks due to unintentional poisonings. This article will review the statistics, explain how child-resistant packaging works, and detail how parents can help keep their children safe from accidental poisoning.
Our test proctors administering adult-use package testing are often asked, “Why are you only testing adults 50-70 years of age?” Here’s the story behind that decision. When the U.S. Congress passed the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 (PPPA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) required child-resistant packaging for specific drugs and household chemicals that could harm children. Package manufacturers developed and introduced new child-resistant packaging to comply with the requirements. Per the PPPA, the specialty packaging required certification that they were child-resistant. At the time, the adult-use effectiveness portion of the package test protocols included adult test subjects 18-45 years of age, a significant change from our current adult-use effectiveness subjects who are 50-70.
