Home safety guidelines for new parents: Medications

All medications should be kept in a locked and secure place at all times Remember that a high place is not always a secure place.  Medications should be kept out of sight.

Make sure all medications are in child resistant containers.

Don't save old prescription medications.

Don't tell your children that medication tastes good or "like candy".  It's better to have a struggle to get them to take it than to tempt them to take more when they really don't need it.

Store children's vitamins in a safe place also.  Overdosing on vitamins ranks among the top phone calls received by the Poison Control Centers.

If your child does manage to swallow or eat any medicine, get whatever you can out of the mouth and call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 immediately.  Have the bottle in your hand so you can tell them what was ingested and approximately how much.  Keep the Poison Control phone number on hand by every phone in your household in case of an emergency.  Syrup of ipecac is no longer recommended.

Quarterly news article from Precious Beginnings Home Care