Guard Against Accidental Poisonings Over the Holidays

Keep medications out of reach

An increase in visitors combined with the cold and flu season can double the amount of medications brought into a home during the holiday season. More medications in the home bring more opportunities for accidental poisonings.

To prevent accidents from happening, make sure visitors do not leave medications where your children can easily find them, such as in an unattended purse or suitcase. For example, whenever grandma's purse full of medications comes into your house make sure it is placed on top of the refrigerator where the children are unable to reach.

Medication dosing errors

This time of year, flu is on the rise. No one wants to be ill during the holiday, which is why medicating your child correctly is important. When relatives visit, make sure multiple caretakers are not giving extra doses of medication. Friends and relatives only want the best for your child, but sometimes too many assistants can cause confusion.

Most medication errors in children under 2-years of age often are related to dosing errors. The four most frequent dosing errors include:

• Incorrect dose – Common when parents are in a hurry and do not pay attention to the amount of medication their child needs.
• Incorrect concentration – Error occurs when an adult strength medication is given to an infant or child.
• 10-fold error – Happens when the recommended dosage is misread and a child is given 10 times the amount necessary. For example, if a child is to receive 0.5ml of a medication sometimes a caregiver will read that as 5ml. This can result in the child receiving ten times the amount of medication.
• Dispensing cup error – Misunderstanding about the correct dosing tool. For infants, most often that is a dropper or a syringe. For older children, a syringe or dosing spoon.

Dosing errors also can occur if a child happens to receive two products that contain the same medication. This may happen in any age group, but often involves older children who are allowed to take their own medication. Be sure you and your child are aware of the dangers of mixing medicines so that you are not unknowingly double medicating.

If you think an accidental poisoning or overdose has happened, call your local Poison Center.

Reprinted with the permission of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.