* Only give your children medication recommended by a doctor or pharmacist.
– Never give medications meant for adults to children
– Do not share prescription medications among family members
– Do not give cough & cold medications bought in a grocery or drug store to children 2 years or younger
* Keep your medications in the bottles that they originally came in.
– When receiving medications from your pharmacy, ask for child-proof packaging
– Keep all medications, including vitamins & supplements, out of reach of children in a locked cabinet
* Use the correct amount of medication.
– Use only the cups or syringes provided to measure medications; do not use kitchen spoons or cups
– If you are not sure how much medicine to give, ask your child’s doctor or pharmacist
– Be careful giving your child more than 1 cough & cold medication; many have the same active ingredients and may result in your child receiving double the amount of medication
* Keep a list of medications your child is taking, as well as a list of known drug allergies.
– Know your child’s current age and weight
– Ask your child’s doctor or pharmacist for a list of medications and updated allergies
– Share your child’s medication list with grandparents, babysitters, and teachers
* Read the labels on medications to see:
– If the medication should be given to children
– The list of active ingredients
– How much medicine to give your child
– How many times a day your child should take the medication
* Call the Poison Center if you need assistance:
* If you think your child may have taken too much medicine or the wrong medication, call the Poison Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222.
– Lindsay Walker Peterson, PharmD, pharmacist at CherokeeIndianHospital
