Kids are not small adults: Giving children medicine safely

by May 30, 2013COMMUNITY sgadugi0 comments

 

* 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