Keep Kids Safer Around Medicine

By SafeKids
July 9, 2009
 
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Each year, more than 1.2 million children ages 5 and under are unintentionally poisoned and 44 percent of these poisonings are from prescription drugs and other medications. 

What young kids see and reach, they usually put in their mouths and as their mobility and capabilities increase, they can reach medicines and household products wherever they’re stored.

It’s important for adults who are around children to keep medications away from little hands-even if you’re not a parent. Twenty percent of the prescription drugs accidentally taken by children 4 and under belong to someone who doesn’t live with the child.

Is it medicine or is it candy?
 
 
Safety Tips
 
To help prevent medication-related poisoning, follow these safety tips: 

• Store medications locked out of children’s sight and reach.

• Buy child-resistant packages when available, but remember that although child-resistant packaging is not 100 percent childproof, it has prevented hundreds of deaths. 

• Keep products in their original packages to avoid confusion.

• Don’t take medicine or vitamins in front of kids and don’t call them “candy.”

• Don’t leave medicine in your purse or an unlocked kitchen or bathroom cabinet. Don’t put it on the kitchen counter, bedside table or leave it unattended while you are using it.

• Read labels to find out what can be poisonous. Keep those things separate from toothpaste, soap and other things you use every day.

• Always read labels, follow directions and give medicines to children based on their weights and ages. Only use the dispensers packaged with children’s medications. 

• Don’t involve children as “helpers” with your medication. They should not remind you to take medicine or bring you water.

• Tell grandparents and friends about avoiding medication poisoning when your family visits their homes.

 

Q&As of the Week
 

Q: What are some of the most common poisonous items for children?

A: While medicines are one of the causes of poisoning in children, children are also poisoned by products such as cosmet­ics, cleaning substances, plants, toys, vitamins, pesticides, lead, and carbon monoxide.

For more info, visit www.usa.safekids.org/poison