Medication dangers are everywhere in your house. Whether prescription or over-the-counter, if medications are accessible to your children, they can cause disaster. It is always the perfect time to take precautions to protect yourself and your family from an accidental poisoning or other accident caused by unintended ingestion of medications. Some of the best ways you can protect your children from a medication injury include:
Cleaning out your medicine cabinet. If you are given a prescription and don’t finish it, flush the remaining pills down the toilet.
Knowing your medications. Always be informed of their potential side effects and what to do if accidental ingestion occurs.
Storing your medications out of your child’s reach. This means putting your medications in a locked cabinet or on a high shelf where small hands can’t reach.
Communicating with your children. Help them understand why they should never take a medication that doesn’t belong to them.
Reaching out to the parents of your children’s friends. Find out if they have any rules in place at their homes. Swap tips and advice on child safety measures.
Arizona Accidental Child Medication Death Statistics
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS), 125 children between the ages of zero and 19 died as a result of poisoning by prescriptions and other medications between 2005 and 2009. The number of teenagers who died was disproportionately higher than the number of younger children. This may be due to the fact that teenagers often experiment with drugs and even receive unknown medications from their friends. Talking to your children about drug use and the dangers of using or accepting medications that don’t belong to them is the first step in preventing tragedy.
What to Do if Your Child is Injured by Medication Poisoning
If your child has been a victim of medication poisoning caused by another person’s negligence, a skilled personal injury attorney may be able to help you and your family. The Husband and Wife Law Team will conduct a thorough investigation to determine what caused your child’s injuries and work hard to settle your case with the at-fault person. We will be sensitive to your case and your family’s situation from beginning to end. For a free consultation on your case, call the attorneys at the Breyer Law Offices, P.C. now.