Over-the-counter cold medications-postmortem findings in infants and the relationship to cause of death.

The Montgomery County Coroner's Office has encountered a series of 10 infant deaths over an 8-month period in infants under 12 months old with toxicology findings that include a variety of drugs commonly found in over-the-counter (OTC) cold medications. The drugs detected were ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, brompheniramine, ethanol, carbinoxamine, levorphanol, acetaminophen, and the anti-emetic metoclopramide. Toxicology findings were confirmed in 2 different matrices in 9 of the 10 cases and by 2 different analytical methods.

The value of experienced medical personnel during the investigation of general aviation accidents.

A multidisciplinary approach to accident investigation is routine in commercial aircraft accidents. A medical team is usually assigned to assist with the investigation. As far as general aviation accidents are concerned, in a majority of cases, these resources are not available to the investigator-in-charge.