Kids are sneaky and like to get into things that they are not supposed to, so it is extremely important to take every measure to prevent children from accessing dangerous medications. We have some tips for safely securing all medications and avoiding an ER trip with your child.

Store all medications in a cupboard or on a high shelf out of your child’s vision and reach. If possible, keep all cabinets locked or child-proofed with latches for an extra layer of protection. If there are controlled substances in your home, consider using a locked box for extra safety. Make sure to keep medicine in its original container with child-safety caps. 

Keep track of ALL medications, especially those known to be addictive medicines like opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants. Know how many pills are in each bottle in case of an accident to know exactly how much the child took. Keeping a sticky note on the bottle or in the medicine cabinet with its updated inventory can be helpful in these situations.

When giving your child medicine, lean over a counter or table to avoid spills on the floor. If a medication spills, vacuum or sweep the entire area as an extra precaution so that no little hands put a stray pill or liquids in their mouths.

Any medication can be dangerous, even blood pressure or diabetes medications. Learn basic first aid and keep the Poison Center Number (1-800-222-1222) in your phone’s contacts and easily displayed on the fridge.

Teaching your children the difference between medicine and candy and why adults should only handle medicines is important. Contact us with any other questions or concerns!

--Blog post written by Maggie Rietze, Centennial Pediatrics of Spokane Summer Intern Extraordinaire