Medicine storage: Choose caution over convenience

With almost one call every minute to poison control centers due to accidental medicine poisonings, it is more important than ever for parents to store medicine safely. However, new research reveals that while most parents know what they should do, they aren’t always doing it.

A new report released by Safe Kids Worldwide, “Safe Medicine Storage: A Look at the Disconnect Between Parent Knowledge and Behavior,” explores that gap. A new nationwide survey of 2,000 parents revealed that while the clear majority of parents agree that it’s important to store all medicine out of sight and up high after every use, less than half of the survey respondents reported doing so.

“We know parents are busy,” said Jessica Saunders, director of Dayton Children’s Center for Child Health and Wellness. “They have a million things to do every day, and they are always on the lookout for what might be dangerous to their kids. But even with the temptation to put convenience ahead of caution, it’s important to store medicine safely every time. It only takes one mistake for a tragedy to occur.”

Can I keep my medicine handy?

With many parents taking medicine, vitamins or supplements daily, it’s tempting to keep medicine where it’s easily accessible. Four in 10 parents agreed that it’s okay to keep everyday medicine out where children can see it. However, choosing convenience over safety can lead to tragedy. In 3 of 5 accidental medicine poisonings involving young children, the medicine wasn’t in its usual safe storage location. Handy for you can mean it’s handy for kids, too.

Where can I safely store my medicine?

When asked where medicine needs to be kept in order for it to be safe, nearly 3 in 5 parents said that it simply needs to be stored out of reach of children. However, research shows that in about half of all poisoning cases, the child climbed up on a chair, toy or other device to reach the medicine. To be completely safe, medicine should be stored out of reach (at or above counter height) and out of sight (in a high cabinet or drawer) at all times.

Does my kid know better?

No matter how well-behaved a toddler is, young children are very curious, wanting to explore. One- and 2-year-old children are proven to be most at risk for medicine poisoning. A third of parents believe that simply talking to their kids will prevent them from getting into medicine, but young children can’t always tell what’s safe and what’s unsafe.

What families can do to protect kids

• Store medicine up and away and out of sight and reach every time.

• Keep medicine in its original child-resistant packaging.

• Practice safe storage of medicine

• Put the Poison Help number, 1-800-222-1222, into your phone and post it visibly at home.

• Instead of keeping your medicine handy, use safe reminder tools like cell phone alarms or medication schedules.

This look at a children’s health or safety issue comes from Dayton Children’s Hospital. Email: newsroom@childrensdayton.org.

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