It is sometimes very difficult for older people, perhaps with weak or arthritic fingers, to open the caps of pill bottles and medicine jars that have been "child-proofed." One encounters such caps not only on mouthwash, cough syrups like Robitussin, digestive aids like Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate, and various other patent medicines and palliatives, but also on prescription pills.

If any of your readers have a connection with pharmaceutical firms or bottle-makers, I hope they suggest that those makers provide optional, easy, normal caps to be included on the side when these products are sold. Old people, or people in childless homes, could then replace the child-proof caps with caps they can manage. It could be not only convenient, but also critical for an older person to be able to get access to his or her medicine in times of emergency, or anytime.

I hope anyone in health care or the medical industry who reads this might kick the idea around and see what can be done. The life you save may be your own.

Fortunately, it is often possible to remove the child-proofing with energetic use of a few tools, like a little saw, a chisel, screwdriver, knife, hammer and a couple of pairs of pliers. But ugh.

Daniel H. Daniels

Beaufort