Who Created The First Prescription Bottle Kid Safety Caps?

In 1967, Dr. Henri Breault invented the child-resistant locking closure for containers, which was a response to a history of accidents involving children opening household packaging and ingesting the contents. The Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 was passed by the United States Congress, authored by U.S. Senator Frank E. Moss. After health education attempts failed to reduce poisonings, Breault refocused his efforts on protective measures, aiming to invent a physical barrier that would prevent children from opening the contents.

Breault’s invention, the “Palm N” Turn”, was patented in 1967 and led to the worldwide introduction of Child Resistant Caps (CRC) and a 91 reduction in local child poisonings. He also invented the disposable hypodermic syringe and child-proof bottle caps. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1929, Breault died of oesophageal cancer in 1972.

The FDA, AAP, and American Medical Association (AMA) leaders, along with supporters from the American Public Health Association, hoped to succeed on two major issues: a label warning and a child-resistant cap. Breault and Peter P. Gach, a career pediatrician from Windsor, are now remembered as pioneers in the development of the current-day child-proof cap. Breault is credited with inventing the first child-resistant cap at a time when accidental poisoning of children was at epidemic levels.

In partnership with Peter Hedgewick, Breault developed the design and technology that requires the user to push down and turn the cap to open the container. Child-safe packages have evolved greatly since their introduction more than five decades ago.