Small children and teens are more likely to be the victims of unintentional medicine poisoning, according to a new report.
Safe Kids Worldwide says more than 1,100 calls are made each day about children taking too much medicine or getting into medicine that doesn't belong to them. Over 50 percent of those calls are for children between 1 and 2 years old.
Toddlers most commonly ingest over-the-counter items like ibuprofen, multivitamins and rash products. These items can be very harmful if taken the wrong way; according to Safe Kids Worldwide, "iron and calcium in multivitamins can be poisonous if too many are taken."
Toddlers often find a family member's medicine on the ground, on the nightstand or in a purse.
Meanwhile, teenagers allowed to manage their own medication can unintentionally take too many or make other mistakes. About 10,000 emergency department visits each year are for medical overdoses by adolescents
Safe Kids Worldwide has the following tips for parents:
For parents with toddlers:
- Put all medicine up and away and out of sight, including your own.
- Consider products you might not think about as medicine, including diaper rash remedies, vitamins or eye drops.
- Use the dosing device that comes with the medicine to insure proper dosages are given.
- Write clear instructions for caregivers about your child’s medicine.
For parents with teens:
- Check in with your teens and talk about any medications they are taking.
- Teach your child how to read over-the-counter drug facts or prescription labels.
- Communicate to teens the importance of only taking medicine that is meant for them.
Parents are also encouraged to save the number for the Poison Help line: 1-800-222-1222.
