Play It Safe During Family Visits

Many young children will visit their grandparents over the summer, which means seniors have to make sure their homes are poison-proof before the kids arrive.

Some of the medicines commonly used by older adults can be deadly to young children, even when they're ingested in small quantities, says the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC).

For example, a single diabetes pill can dangerously lower a child's blood sugar, causing seizures and coma. Many drugs used to control heart disease and arthritis can be fatal to children who swallow only a few pills.

The AAPCC offers some simple steps that grandparents can take to reduce the risk of accidental poisonings:

• Keep all medicines and vitamins in containers with child-resistant caps. Don't keep medicines in cups or 'reminder containers.' After using the product, always make sure the child-resistant cap is properly secured.
• Ensure that all medicines, cleaning products and other household chemicals are out of reach of children and locked away.
• Go through your medicine cabinet and flush outdated medicines down the toilet. Rinse liquids bottles before you discard them.
• Before you answer the doorbell or phone, make sure that all medicines and household products are secured and out of a child's reach.
• When you take your medicines, do it out of the child's view. Children love to imitate adults.
• Keep your foods and household chemicals stored apart from each other.
• Keep products in their original containers. Don't put paints, solvents, lamp oil or pesticides in bottles, glasses, or jars that are usually used for food.
• If a child does swallow medicines or chemicals -- or you suspect it -- call the poison center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately. Post the number in a visible location near your phone. Poison center experts are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

More information

Here's where you can learn more about poisoning prevention.

Reference Source 101

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