Medication Safety
More than 50% of the poisonings reported to the Connecticut Poison Center involve medicines, both prescription and over-the-counter. Medicine can be dangerous if used incorrectly or in incorrect amounts.
Acetaminophen
Advertised as safe, this is a commonly used product found by itself or in combination with
other ingredients that can cause serious liver injury if used incorrectly. Always read the
labels for correct dosage instructions and never exceed the dosage recommendations. When
taking two medicines, always be sure the ingredients are different.
Children and Medicine
- Before you give your child medicine, read the medicine label. If you have any questions, call your doctor or pharmacist.
- Take your time when giving your child medicine. Children often gag when medicine is given too quickly.
- When you give a liquid medicine to your child, use a measuring tool suited for your child's age. Do not use kitchen spoons or cooking utensils to give medicine.
- If your child throws up or spills some medicine, do not give your child extra medicine. This could cause an overdose. Instead call your doctor or pharmacist.
- Make sure you give the right dose; medicine can come in different strengths. Always check the label for the age recommendations and directions before giving it to your child. Base the dose on your child's weight, if you have any questions consult your doctor before you give the dose.
- Know the difference between dosing amounts. For example, a tablespoon (tbsp.) is not the same as a teaspoon (tsp.).
- Never call medicine candy! Your child may eat the medicine, thinking it is candy.
- Never give your child someone else's medicine.
- When visiting relatives be sure their homes are poison proofed -- often grandparents meds are not stored in child resistant closures and may be frequently found at the bedside or on the kitchen counters.
Eye Drops
Many over the counter eye and nose drops contains
ingredients that have a decongestant effect. Safe enough to use over
the counter but these ingredients can cause serious illness in small doses in young
children. These products, like all other medications should always be stored in a locked cabinet.
Iron
Poisoning
Iron is a mineral needed for good health. An ingredient in many brightly colored and attractively shaped vitamins, too much
iron can be unsafe -- even deadly! Iron is the leading cause of poisoning death in
children. Iron tablets and vitamins containing iron are a major problem. Iron is the
leading cause of unintentional childhood poisonings reported to the
AAPCC. From 1986
though 1994, more than 150,000 children ages 5 and under swallowed iron tablets; many were
hospitalized and 38 died. Vitamins and minerals with iron must be kept out of the reach
and sight of children and in child-resistant containers (CRCs).
Safety Tips
1. Store Medicines Safely
- Keep medicines and vitamins in bottles with child-safety caps (child-resistant packaging).
- Store medicine and vitamins in locked cabinets, out of the reach and sight of children.
- After you use a medicine, place the safety cap back onto the bottle tightly. Return the bottle to a locked cabinet.
- Flush outdated (expired) or leftover medicines down the toilet or take them to your pharmacy.
Remember, child-safety caps are NOT child proof! Some children can open these caps. This is why it is important to keep medicines and vitamins locked up!
2. Use Medicines Safely
- Understand and follow your doctor or pharmacist's directions for taking medicine. If you have any questions, call your doctor or pharmacist.
- Read the medicine's label before you take it. Before you leave the pharmacy check the label for your name, directions for using the medicine, the expiration date and to be sure the contents look familiar.
- Taking medicine with some foods, alcohol, or other medicines can be dangerous. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.
- Only take medicine that belongs to you. Do not share your medicine with anyone else.
- Do not take or give medicine in the dark or without your glasses on.
- Never take medicine in front of your child or give medicine to one child while another is watching.
3. Know What to Do in a Poison Emergency
- Keep the telephone number of the Connecticut Poison Control Center on or near your telephones.
- If you think someone has been poisoned, call the poison center right away! Do not wait for the victim to look or feel sick!
In a poison emergency, call 1-800-222-1222.
Hearing impaired, call 1-866-218-5372.
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