Expert: Dr Alan Galbraith - 8/28/2009

Question
here in Venezuela there is 1967 law that says : " in the first aid kit is forbidden to have pills, or tablets" I consulted a physician and he advised me that Atamel (acetaminofen) is a tablet that almost never makes an allergic reaction in any person, but, I ask my self: if in my workplace someone takes  pill of this and have an allergic reaction what is more valuable, what the law says or what the phisician  says. The problem is in my stores (retail) the workers sometimes ask for a pill to calm a headache and it would be ridiculous to send the worker to a hospital in this case.
Please give me your opinion.

Answer
Dear Auripol

Personally I think this situation is ridiculous. I have never heard of first aid kits not containing tablets such as acetaminophen etc. These drugs used appropriately are less dangerous than many foods especially when allergies are mentioned. This is what is called overkill and makes no sense to me as a pharmacologist. In Australia school first aid kits contain acetaminophen as tablets and syrups.

Regards

Alan Galbraith