Preventing Poisonings

Preventing Poisonings

Did you know approximately 60,000 young children visit the emergency room each year due to accidental ingestion of medicines? That is one child every 8 minutes! So how can you help prevent poisonings in your home? Check out seven simple tips listed below.

• Store all medicines out of reach of children. Any medicine or vitamin can be dangerous if the directions on the label are not followed. Walk around your home and find the best place to store medicines up, away, and out of sight of young children. 
• Store medicines after each use. It is easy to leave medicines on the nightstand or the kitchen counter. However, most accidental poisonings happen when the medicine is within reach. So, no matter the situation, always put medicines and vitamins away immediately after each use. 
• Did you hear the "click”? Always relock the safety cap on medicine bottles. If the medicine has a safety cap that turns to lock, twist it until you hear the "click" or until you can't twist anymore. Remember, even though many medicines and vitamins have safety caps, children may still be able to open them. Always follow tips one and two to keep medicines stored up and away. 
• Medicine is not candy. It is important to explain to your children what medicine is and why you or another caregiver must be the one to give it to them. Never tell your children medicine is candy, even if your child does not like to take their medicine.
• Don't forget about visitors in your home. Always remind guests to keep purses, bags, and coats that have medicines in them up and away when they are in your home. 
• Set reminders to take your medicines and vitamins on your refrigerator, cell phone, or near where you store your medicines. Many families have multiple people in the home taking medicines at the same time, and, as a caregiver, it isn't always easy to keep track. Setting reminders is an easy way to track each person's medicine use and dosages.
• Save and post the Poison Help number (800-222-1222) on your cell phone and near your home phone. Share it with family and friends, and babysitters who care for young babies and children. Poison Centers offer free, confidential medical advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This service provides a primary resource for poisoning information and helps guide you through important steps when a poisoning may have occurred.

Additional Tips for Babies & Young Children

• Look around. Assess the area where you provide care to babies. Look for potentially toxic items within their reach, including creams, lotions, soaps, plants, medicines, and household items. Do not leave these products on a table or counter. Keep these items secure when not in use. 
• Keep in sight. Keep babies and young children where you can see them at all times, even when answering the door or telephone. Never leave babies and children alone.
• Do not give to baby to hold. Medicines and baby care items are not toys. Do not give babies medicine bottles to use as rattles, or tubes of cream or ointments to hold while providing care. These items may accidentally open and the baby may ingest what is inside since they put everything in their mouth. Container caps may also be a choking hazard.
• Keep in containers. Keep products in their original containers, with the label, so products can be easily identified and the label directions can be read.
• Learn to measure doses. For over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen, and prescription medicines, be sure you understand how to measure the dose correctly. Review the process with your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, showing him or her how you would measure the dose of medicine.
• Avoid double dosing. Only one adult should give medicine to the baby. If a different adult needs to give the baby medicine, he or she should check with the primary adult PRIOR to giving the dose This will prevent accidentally giving the baby too much medicine.
• Teach siblings. Teach older children to never take or give their younger siblings medicine or food unless they ask an adult first. Remind them to never eat or feed their siblings plants and berries, and to never put anything in their mouth if they do not know what it is or if it is safe.

Reference. 1. Lovegrove MC, Weidle NJ, Budnitz D. Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Unsupervised Pediatric Medication Exposures, 2004–2013. Pediatrics. 2015 Oct; 136(4)