Children can get into life-threatening danger.. at home! Federal health officials are warning about the growing number of children ending up in the emergency room because they've overdosed on medications they found around the house.
Folks at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are hoping their new program, "Up and Away and Out of Sight" will reduce those accidental overdoses.
Their list of do's and don'ts include never telling a child that medicine is candy and always place medicine out of reach. Never leave it on a child's bedside table.
FROM THE NEWS RELEASE:
All medicines and vitamins should be stored in a place that's too high for children to reach or see. Always put medicines away after you use them. Never leave them out on a kitchen counter or a sick child's bedside, even if you have to give the medicine again in a few hours.
Make sure safety caps are locked after you use medicines. If it's a locking cap that turns, twist it until you hear a click.
Teach children about medicine safety. Never tell children that medicine is candy to get them to take it, the CDC stressed.
Ask visitors and houseguests to keep purses, bags or coats that have medicines in them up and away and out of sight when they are in your home.
Be prepared for emergencies. Program the poison control number (1-800-222-1222) into home and cellphones.
"Even with improvements to packaging, no medication package can be 100 percent childproof," Dr. Richard Dart, president of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, said in the news release. "Poison centers receive calls every day about young children getting into medicines without adult supervision; that's why we encourage all parents and caregivers to follow these simple steps to ensure their child's safety."
