Feb 21, 2008
 
It is heart breaking to read and hear about young children dying only because the adults did not take that little precaution while administering medicine. Parenting can be a hard, but a very fulfilling job. Keeping our children safe from danger normally becomes our first priority.   We are watchful and extra careful when it comes to fire, sharp objects, glass and electricity.  But most of us take the high risk of medicine misuse for granted.  Every year thousands of children around the world die due to accidental poisoning either through intake of the wrong medicine, pesticide or cleaning agents.  

When we spend so much of time, money and effort to place our shoes, clothes, CD’s, photo albums in the right place, we are negligent when it comes to the medicine cabinets.  In most of our homes, medicines are kept in bathroom cabinets or bedroom drawers which are not locked and are within reach of small children. It is our duty as parents and adults to be aware of the danger looming over our children and to avoid accidents from happening.

It may be convenient to keep medicines in drawers, bench-tops, or drawers but it takes only a few minutes for toddlers and other young children to happily help themselves. Remember, young children have no idea about medicines - to them they look like attractive sweets.  When in the hands of children, no medicine is completely safe. Medicines should always be stored in childproof containers in childproofed medicine cabinets. Store all your medicines in a locked cabinet, away from the reach of your children. If this is not possible, keep them in a place where it will be difficult for children to see and reach, but keep in mind that children over the age of two can be expert climbers!

Store medicines in their original, labeled child-resistant containers.    Sometimes we store medicines in boxes that are convenient to open.  When medications are transferred to other containers, no one else knows exactly what they are or how they are used or how to take them. Most pills and capsules look alike. In the event that someone else wants to use the medicine cabinet in your absence, the wrong medicine could be taken.  

Another common mistake we make while taking or giving medicines is not reading the labels. Check the label and the expiry date before giving the medicine.  Do not dispose unwanted tablets in waste paper bins inside the house. It can be an attractive play toy for your child and it will not be long before the brightly colored SWEETS are swallowed.

Do not store items like bathroom cleaners, stain removers and pesticides under the kitchen sink or the corner of your bathroom. Such products are not used daily and it is best that you stow them somewhere on the highest storage rack of your kitchen. These products are not safe, not only for children but even for adults.  If not usable, dispose them safely.

All medicines can be dangerous, especially in overdose. Just because you can buy a medicine in the supermarket or openly in a pharmacy - such as paracetamol and aspirin - it does not mean it is safe if taken by children or incorrectly. 
 

It is sometimes tempting to give your child the same medicine prescribed by the doctor for an earlier single related ailment. Never give your child the same medicine unless the doctor approves it again.  Your child can have fever or other illnesses due to various reasons and giving the wrong medicine can be dangerous. Hence it is best recommended that you dispose off the prescribed medicine as soon as your child is well.  

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