Recommendations for preventing harm from accidental medicine poisonings in children
Steps that parents and caregivers can take to prevent a child poisoning tragedy.
Last week, I discussed a recent study that shed light on deep-rooted causes of child poisonings with medicines. Interviews were conducted with caregivers who reported child poisonings, which gave valuable information about causes that may have been overlooked in prior studies. Based on this information, I wanted to list some steps that parents and caregivers can take to prevent a child poisoning tragedy.
Store safely
Keep all medicines in a secure cabinet, locked if possible, up and away from the reach or view of children. This includes medicines you take every day, as well as products you might not think about as medicines such as diaper rash remedies, creams and ointments, eye drops, and vitamins.
Keep medicines currently in use in a secure location and under close observation during the entire administration period to prevent a child from accessing the medicine while taking a dose or while giving a dose to another child.
Return medicines to a secure location, high and out of sight, immediately after use. Don't leave them out as a reminder to take a medicine. If you need a reminder to take doses of medicine, set an alarm on your watch or cell phone, or write a note.
Never leave medicines on counters, nightstands, or tables (including children's vitamins or iron supplements), even if they have child-resistant caps.
With oral liquid medicines, never leave a syringe bottle adaptor (a device that makes it easy to withdraw liquids using an oral syringe) in place if it prevents you from replacing the child-resistant cap.
Keep any refrigerated medication out of the view and reach of children. Store the medicine on a high shelf (not the refrigerator door), behind but away from food. Do not let children see you return the medicine to the refrigerator.
Avoid keeping medicines in purses, backpacks, or suitcases where children may explore, or in pockets where the medicine can fall out.
Be alert to visitors' medicine, as guests in your home may not be thinking about medicine safety. When you have guests, offer to put purses, bags, and coats out of reach of children to guard against a curious child.
When around children
Don't take medicines in front of children, because children tend to mimic adults.
Don't put medicines away in front of children.
Never refer to medicine as candy.
Take precautions
Use child-resistant caps on containers and be sure they are closed properly after use. Remember that "child resistant" does not mean "child proof." Children can sometimes defeat safety caps, so keep medicines up and away, and out of reach.
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