Safe Medicine Storage

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More than 60,000 young children end up in emergency rooms every year because they got into medicines while their parent or caregiver was not looking.

The following safety tips are provided by Up and Away and Out of Sight, an educational program in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control.

Visit http://www.upandaway.org/ for more information.

Pick a place your children cannot reach

Any kind of medicine or vitamin can cause harm if taken in the wrong way, even medicine you can buy without a prescription. Walk around your house and find a storage place too high for a child to reach or see.

Put medicines away every time

Never leave them out on a kitchen counter or at a sick child’s bedside, even if you have to give the medicine again in a few hours. Always put every medicine and vitamin away every time you use it, including those you use every day.

Hear the click to make sure the safety cap is locked

Always relock the safety cap on a medicine bottle. If the medicine has a locking cap that turns, twist it until you hear the click. Remember, even though many medicines and vitamins have safety caps, children may be able to open them. Always store every medicine and vitamin up and away and out of children’s sight.

Teach your children about medicine safety

Tell your children what medicine is and why you must be the one to give it to them. Never tell children medicine is candy to get them to take it, even if your child does not like to take his or her medicine.

Tell guests about medicine safety

Ask houseguests and visitors to keep purses, bags, or coats that have medicines in them up and away and out of sight when they are in your home.

Be prepared in case of emergency

Call your poison control center at (800) 222-1222 right away if you think your child might have gotten into a medicine or vitamin. Program the number into your home and cell phones so you will have it when you need it.

Poison Prevention Information

• www.poisonhelp.hrsa.gov

• (800) 222-1222

Up and Away and Out of Sight is an educational program to remind families of the importance of safe medicine storage. It is an initiative of PROTECT, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association Educational Foundation and fellow organizations.