:: Safe Kids USA - Poison Safety ::

Each year, more than one million children ages 5 and under are accidentally poisoned and 40 percent of these are from prescription drugs and other medications. Of the oral prescription drugs ingested by children ages 4 and under, over 20 percent belong to someone who does not live with the child -- often a grandparent or great-grandparent.

Although child-resistant packaging is not 100 percent childproof, it has prevented hundreds of child deaths since 1974. There are also many other ways to help prevent medication-related poisoning.

Some states have above average rates (the national average is 0.15 per 100,000) of poisoning fatalities. Click for a list of those states.

Preventing Medication-Related Childhood Poisoning Tips

Store medications locked out of children’s sight and reach.

Don’t leave medicine in your purse or an unlocked kitchen or bathroom cabinet. Don’t put it on a kitchen or bedside table.

Be aware of medications that may be in your handbag. Store handbags out of the reach of young children.

Read labels to find out what can be poisonous. Keep those things separate from toothpaste, soap and other things you use every day.

Never leave medicines or potentially poisonous household products unattended while you are using them.

Never leave out loose pills.

Buy child-resistant packages when available. Keep products in their original packages to avoid confusion.

Be safe when taking or administering medication.

Always read labels, follow directions and give medicines to children based on their weights and ages. Only use the dispensers packaged with children’s medications.