Up and Away and Out of Sight – Safe Medicine Storage
Nora Rhoades, Family and Youth Development Agent
Approximately 60,000 young children are brought to the emergency room each year because they got into medicines that were left within reach.
Families take medicines and vitamins to feel well or stay well. Any medicine or vitamin can be dangerous if taken in the wrong way or by the wrong person, even medicine you buy without a prescription. Children are curious. Are all of your medicines stored safely?
It’s important to teach your children what medicine is and why you or another caregiver must be the one to give it to them. Never tell your children medicine is candy, even if they don’t like to take their medicine.
Save the Poison Help number (800) 222-1222 in all of your phones, so you have it when you need it. Make sure it’s available to anyone that spends time with your child. Call Poison Help right away if you think your child might have gotten into a medicine or vitamin, even if you are not completely sure.
Up and Away and Out of Sight is an educational program to remind families about the importance of safe medicine storage. It is an initiative of PROTECT, in partnership with the CDC. For more safety suggestions, like those shared in this blog article, visit https://www.upandaway.org/.
Approximately 60,000 young children are brought to the emergency room each year because they got into medicines that were left within reach.
Families take medicines and vitamins to feel well or stay well. Any medicine or vitamin can be dangerous if taken in the wrong way or by the wrong person, even medicine you buy without a prescription. Children are curious. Are all of your medicines stored safely?
- Walk around your home and find the best place to store medicines up and away and out of sight of young children, such as a high cabinet.
- Never leave medicines out on a table, countertop or bedside table, even if you have to give the medicine again in a few hours. Put every medicine and vitamin away every time you use it, including those you use daily.
- Always relock the safety cap on bottles. If the medicine has a locking cap that turns, twist it until you hear the “click” or until you can’t twist anymore. Keep your medicines in their original child-resistant containers. Other containers, such as pill organizers, often lack child safety features and can be easily opened.
- Remind house guests to keep purses, bags or coats that have medicines in them up and away and out of sight.
- As a guest, don’t be shy about asking about safe storage locations. In a hotel, look for a high cabinet or passcode-protected safe.
- Set a daily reminder to take your medicines and vitamins on your refrigerator or a location you check regularly like a cell phone, since the medicine will be safely stored out of sight.
It’s important to teach your children what medicine is and why you or another caregiver must be the one to give it to them. Never tell your children medicine is candy, even if they don’t like to take their medicine.
Save the Poison Help number (800) 222-1222 in all of your phones, so you have it when you need it. Make sure it’s available to anyone that spends time with your child. Call Poison Help right away if you think your child might have gotten into a medicine or vitamin, even if you are not completely sure.Up and Away and Out of Sight is an educational program to remind families about the importance of safe medicine storage. It is an initiative of PROTECT, in partnership with the CDC. For more safety suggestions, like those shared in this blog article, visit https://www.upandaway.org/.
