Required Vehicle First Aid Kit Could Become
A Health Risk
The Colegio de Farmacéuticos de Costa Rica
(College of Pharmacists) says that the "botiquín"
(first aid kit) required by law in every
vehicle on September 23, could be become a
health risk.
Come September 23, the new Ley de Tránsito
takes effect and required, among many other
things, that each vehicle be outfitted with
a first aid kit or face a ¢80.000 colones
fine and 15 points loss on the drivers
license for not respecting the traffic
regulation.
(See
Shorty's Guide to the 2009 Ley de Transito)
The Colegio de Farmacéuticos says that the
contents of the kit can deteriorate when it
is exposed to temperatures over 30 Celsius,
which can easily be reached in a closed
vehicle in the sun. The Colegio warns that
the drugs contained in the kit can be become
toxic is exposed to such high temperatures.
In reality the same medications that can
save a life can easily become dangerous if
taken beyond their expiry date or not stored
correctly. One such item is a simple aspirin
which can cause stomach problems if it goes
bad. Last year the Centro Nacional de
Control de Intoxicaciones reports that it
treated 530 cases of problems with aspirin
and another 525 for flu medications.
To make its point, the Colegio placed a
thermometer in the trunk of a vehicle and
took temperature readings in various parts
of the San José. The results indicated a
reading o 38.1 Celsius in Coronado; 42.8C in
San Sebastián; and, 45.6 in Escazú.
The Colegio has sent a letter to ministra de
Transportes, Karla González, to ask for the
removal of all types of medications from the
first aid kit.
The letter was sent on July 20 and to date,
a little over a month before the requirement
takes effect, there has been no answer or
announcement by the ministra.
However, the legal department of the Consejo
de Seguridad Vial (Cosevi) says it is
looking into the situation and will be
included in the final decree to apply the
new traffic law, which could include changes
to the articles required in the "botiquín
vehicular". |
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