Tis the summer season when the kids are spending more time around the house, when you are visiting friends and family or hosting guests in your home. Its an important time to review medication safety in your home. Did you know that approximately 60,000 young children are brought to the ER each year because they got into medications that were left within reach?
Up and Away is a campaign by PROTECT and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that reminds us to “Put your medicines UP AND AWAY and out of sight.”
Some simple tips to ensure a medication safe home include:
- Pick a place your children cannot reach. Keep in mind that little ones can climb and reach farther than we usually think.
- Put medicines up and away after each use. Following a routine with medication use will ensure that medications get put back in the same secure place every single time.
- Make sure the safety cap is locked. While safety caps are not childproof, they should still be used in every instance possible. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about safety caps for medications. Some medications sold over-the-counter do not have safety caps…check your bottles.
- Teach your children about medicine safety. Some points of discussion to get you started: Medications are intended for one person and should not be used by others. Medications should only be used if absolutely necessary. This is a good time to tie in why eating healthy and exercising can help with leading a healthy lifestyle and perhaps the use of less medications. Ask kids what they know about medications. You can also discuss why they take medications if they do or if they know someone else who uses medicine.
- Tell guests about medicine safety. Whether you have guests in your home or your children are guests at someone else’s home, discuss where medications are stored. A quick trip to the bathroom or kitchen should give you a good idea if medications are stored somewhere within reach of the children.
- Be prepared in case of an emergency. Make sure that you and all caregivers have quick access to the Poison Control Center that can be reached at (800) 222-1222. Call the poison control center right away if you are concerned that your child has gotten into any medicine.
What tips would you add to the list?
