Idaho CareLine: Dial 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588
Children act fast . . . So do poisons! Lock 'em high, So kids don't die. Keep anything that could poison your child out of reach with lids on tight. Lock them up, if at all possible. This includes medicines, alcohol (beer, wine, hard liquor), cleaning products, perfume, mouthwash, toothpaste, even baby vitamins and aspirin. Ask your houseguests to do the same. Medicines can be locked in an overnight bag which can also be used for a first aid kit. Store all chemicals (gasoline, lamp oil, kerosene), pesticides, etc., completely out of reach of children. It is not safe to store them under the sink or on a low shelf. Some house plants are poisonous. Are all plants out of your child's reach? Stay away from sources of lead poisoning: paint in homes built before 1978, old painted cribs, mine tailings, lead weights. Call 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) for more information. To order "Mr. Yuk" stickers to label toxic items, call the Idaho CareLine at 1-800-926-2588. Talk to your doctor, clinic or Idaho Poison Center (1-800-860-0620) before you make a child vomit. Sometimes it is the wrong thing to do! From "Children Do Come With Directions!" A Parent Guide prepared by Success by 6, Ada County United Way. Giving Medication Safely "Open wide ... here comes the choo-choo." Although it may sound cute, giving medicine to an ill child is not easy or fun. It is a serious parental and child care provider role to make certain the child gets what they need to get well. Depending on the child, how ill the child is, and many other "factors out of your control," you may end up wearing more of the medicine than the child actually took. The following information is intended to provide general information and tips to help parents and caregivers safely give the child needed medication. Talk with your health care provider or pharmacist before you give the child any medication: Why is the medicine needed? What will it do for the child? How much and how long should the medicine be given? Will it interfere or react with other medications being taken? Are there side effects? Does it need refrigeration? Can you also give the child over-the-counter products (acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or cough syrup) for symptoms not addressed by the medication prescribed? How to Talk With Your Child's Doctor
Children act fast . . . So do poisons! Lock 'em high, So kids don't die. Keep anything that could poison your child out of reach with lids on tight. Lock them up, if at all possible. This includes medicines, alcohol (beer, wine, hard liquor), cleaning products, perfume, mouthwash, toothpaste, even baby vitamins and aspirin. Ask your houseguests to do the same. Medicines can be locked in an overnight bag which can also be used for a first aid kit. Store all chemicals (gasoline, lamp oil, kerosene), pesticides, etc., completely out of reach of children. It is not safe to store them under the sink or on a low shelf. Some house plants are poisonous. Are all plants out of your child's reach? Stay away from sources of lead poisoning: paint in homes built before 1978, old painted cribs, mine tailings, lead weights. Call 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) for more information. To order "Mr. Yuk" stickers to label toxic items, call the Idaho CareLine at 1-800-926-2588. Talk to your doctor, clinic or Idaho Poison Center (1-800-860-0620) before you make a child vomit. Sometimes it is the wrong thing to do! From "Children Do Come With Directions!" A Parent Guide prepared by Success by 6, Ada County United Way.
Children act fast . . . So do poisons! Lock 'em high, So kids don't die.
Keep anything that could poison your child out of reach with lids on tight. Lock them up, if at all possible. This includes medicines, alcohol (beer, wine, hard liquor), cleaning products, perfume, mouthwash, toothpaste, even baby vitamins and aspirin. Ask your houseguests to do the same.
Medicines can be locked in an overnight bag which can also be used for a first aid kit.
Store all chemicals (gasoline, lamp oil, kerosene), pesticides, etc., completely out of reach of children. It is not safe to store them under the sink or on a low shelf.
Some house plants are poisonous. Are all plants out of your child's reach?
Stay away from sources of lead poisoning: paint in homes built before 1978, old painted cribs, mine tailings, lead weights.
Call 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) for more information. To order "Mr. Yuk" stickers to label toxic items, call the Idaho CareLine at 1-800-926-2588.
Talk to your doctor, clinic or Idaho Poison Center (1-800-860-0620) before you make a child vomit. Sometimes it is the wrong thing to do!
From "Children Do Come With Directions!" A Parent Guide prepared by Success by 6, Ada County United Way.
Giving Medication Safely
"Open wide ... here comes the choo-choo."
Although it may sound cute, giving medicine to an ill child is not easy or fun. It is a serious parental and child care provider role to make certain the child gets what they need to get well. Depending on the child, how ill the child is, and many other "factors out of your control," you may end up wearing more of the medicine than the child actually took. The following information is intended to provide general information and tips to help parents and caregivers safely give the child needed medication. Talk with your health care provider or pharmacist before you give the child any medication:
Why is the medicine needed?
What will it do for the child?
How much and how long should the medicine be given?
Will it interfere or react with other medications being taken?
Are there side effects?
Does it need refrigeration?
Can you also give the child over-the-counter products (acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or cough syrup) for symptoms not addressed by the medication prescribed?
How to Talk With Your Child's Doctor
outlines general guidelines and symptoms which suggest you should call your doctor. The article stresses the importance that parents should feel comfortable to call the doctor's office and ask questions. That is the easiest way to make sure you are not putting your child's health at risk by over-medicating and/or delaying medical attention. Talking to the Pharmacist discusses the type of questions your pharmacist can help you with. This article also links to a how to start the conversation, tips from the pharmacist, etc. Tips for Talking With Your Child About Medicines Explain it will help them feel better. Use the proper term. Call it "medicine" not "candy." Give them options on how to take the medicine, NOT whether or not they will take the medicine. "Do you want to sit on my lap?" or "Do you want juice after you take your medicine?" Praise them after they take their medicine. NOTE: If you suspect a child has ingested a poison, but they ARE NOT showing physical signs of distress, call the Idaho Poison Center at 1-800-860-0620. If the child IS having difficulty breathing or other signs of physical distress, call 911 immediately. Common Mistakes to Avoid 1. Follow the Directions. If the label says "shake before using," be sure you do. Some liquid medicines need the active ingredients distributed throughout the bottle by shaking. If you do not shake the bottle, the first two-thirds of dosages will be weaker than they should be, and the last dosages will be very strong, which could be harmful to the child. 2. Do Not Over Medicate. The use of over-the-counter (OTC) products without proper advice from your health care provider can lead to giving the child unnecessary medications. OTC products treat the symptoms, not the illness. Using a multi-symptom OTC cold product when the child "just has a fever" or "just has a runny nose" results in giving the child unneeded ingredients and unnecessary side effects. Read the label carefully before you give any multi-symptom product to a child. A common mistake is giving a child acetaminophen for a fever along with a multi-symptom cold product — many of which also include acetaminophen — and the result is an unintentional overdose of acetaminophen. Leave written instructions with care providers, grandparents, babysitters, older siblings — anyone who will be responsible for giving a child medications. This simple step will eliminate confusion and help prevent a possible overdose. 3. Giving Children Aspirin-Containing Medicines. Most parents know not to give children under age 16 aspirin because of its possible connection to Reye's syndrome. What parents may not realize is that aspirin-like compounds, such as salicylates, also are present in other medications such as Pepto Bismol. To help settle a child's upset stomach, it is better to give them a flat cola or ginger ale. Again, talk with your health care provider or pharmacist before giving an infant or young child over-the-counter products. 4. Use of an Anti-Diarrhea Drug. Sometimes these can work too well, causing constipation. Worst yet, some of the OTC anti-diarrhea products, when given to infants or small children, can cause serious side effects, such as breathing problems. Give the infant or young child lots of fluids, including an electrolyte solution, during the first 8 to 12 hours of the child's diarrhea. After that, it also may help to cut back on dairy products and offer bland foods. If symptoms do not improve, or if the diarrhea is accompanied by a high fever or other symptoms (especially with a child under 6 months of age), contact your health care provider. When you have questions or concerns, the best advice is: Contact your health care provider. No question can be asked too often, nor is it too silly or basic when it comes to ensuring the safety and wellness of your child. Excerpts of this article were taken from an article in the February 2000 Parents Magazine entitled "Medicine Mistakes All Parents Make." Additional Resources (Note: You'll find these articles at different web sites. Use the "back" button when you're done to return to this page.) Idaho Poison Center — Staff are available 24-hours a day to answer questions and to provide assistance on poison prevention steps by calling 1-800-860-0620. This service is provided by Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver, Colorado. Their web site provides numerous resources, tips, and links to additional information. Cold Formulas and Children — Use of OTC products.
Tips for Talking With Your Child About Medicines Explain it will help them feel better. Use the proper term. Call it "medicine" not "candy." Give them options on how to take the medicine, NOT whether or not they will take the medicine. "Do you want to sit on my lap?" or "Do you want juice after you take your medicine?" Praise them after they take their medicine. NOTE: If you suspect a child has ingested a poison, but they ARE NOT showing physical signs of distress, call the Idaho Poison Center at 1-800-860-0620. If the child IS having difficulty breathing or other signs of physical distress, call 911 immediately.
Tips for Talking With Your Child About Medicines
NOTE: If you suspect a child has ingested a poison, but they ARE NOT showing physical signs of distress, call the Idaho Poison Center at 1-800-860-0620. If the child IS having difficulty breathing or other signs of physical distress, call 911 immediately.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Follow the Directions. If the label says "shake before using," be sure you do. Some liquid medicines need the active ingredients distributed throughout the bottle by shaking. If you do not shake the bottle, the first two-thirds of dosages will be weaker than they should be, and the last dosages will be very strong, which could be harmful to the child.
2. Do Not Over Medicate. The use of over-the-counter (OTC) products without proper advice from your health care provider can lead to giving the child unnecessary medications. OTC products treat the symptoms, not the illness. Using a multi-symptom OTC cold product when the child "just has a fever" or "just has a runny nose" results in giving the child unneeded ingredients and unnecessary side effects.
Read the label carefully before you give any multi-symptom product to a child. A common mistake is giving a child acetaminophen for a fever along with a multi-symptom cold product — many of which also include acetaminophen — and the result is an unintentional overdose of acetaminophen. Leave written instructions with care providers, grandparents, babysitters, older siblings — anyone who will be responsible for giving a child medications. This simple step will eliminate confusion and help prevent a possible overdose.
3. Giving Children Aspirin-Containing Medicines. Most parents know not to give children under age 16 aspirin because of its possible connection to Reye's syndrome. What parents may not realize is that aspirin-like compounds, such as salicylates, also are present in other medications such as Pepto Bismol. To help settle a child's upset stomach, it is better to give them a flat cola or ginger ale. Again, talk with your health care provider or pharmacist before giving an infant or young child over-the-counter products.
4. Use of an Anti-Diarrhea Drug. Sometimes these can work too well, causing constipation. Worst yet, some of the OTC anti-diarrhea products, when given to infants or small children, can cause serious side effects, such as breathing problems. Give the infant or young child lots of fluids, including an electrolyte solution, during the first 8 to 12 hours of the child's diarrhea. After that, it also may help to cut back on dairy products and offer bland foods. If symptoms do not improve, or if the diarrhea is accompanied by a high fever or other symptoms (especially with a child under 6 months of age), contact your health care provider.
When you have questions or concerns, the best advice is: Contact your health care provider. No question can be asked too often, nor is it too silly or basic when it comes to ensuring the safety and wellness of your child.
Excerpts of this article were taken from an article in the February 2000 Parents Magazine entitled "Medicine Mistakes All Parents Make."
Additional Resources
(Note: You'll find these articles at different web sites. Use the "back" button when you're done to return to this page.)
Idaho Poison Center — Staff are available 24-hours a day to answer questions and to provide assistance on poison prevention steps by calling 1-800-860-0620. This service is provided by Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver, Colorado. Their web site provides numerous resources, tips, and links to additional information.
Cold Formulas and Children — Use of OTC products.
Tip: Do not give over-the-counter products to a child under age 2 without first consulting your health-care provider.
Tip: Always finish the full course of antibiotics.
Tip: Get proper measuring devices. It is important that medicine be measured accurately, and it is much easier to do with proper tools. Do not use a teaspoon from your silverware drawer. Ask your pharmacist for a measuring device — they usually have them at no cost. Don't forget to get an extra if your child is in child care. The pharmacist also can show you how to correctly choose and use the measuring device best for your child, based on their age.
Tip: Do not put medicine in the baby's bottle with other liquids. They may not finish the bottle, and then will not get the full dosage.
Tip: A dropper or oral syringe works well for infants. A dosing spoon works well for an older child who may spill. A dosage cup works great for children who can drink without spilling.
Medicine and Child Care
If your child attends a child care, ask your pharmacist for an extra bottle and an extra measuring device. It is easier to leave a supply of the medication with the care provider than to remember to transport it each morning and afternoon. Make sure the bottle has a label giving the child's name, medication name, and dosage information (check with your pharmacist, and they can make a duplicate label/bottle for you). Talk with your child caregiver about the schedule and dosage of medication. Specify which doses they need to give the child and which you will do at home.
Tip: Some medications require extra precautions if the child is going to be in the sunlight. Be sure you alert the child caregiver if this is a side effect of the medication.