Medication Safety

Children, especially those under age five, are naturally curious and can be seriously harmed by medications commonly found in the home. An estimated 60,000 children (under 18 years old) are treated in emergency departments each year for unintentional medication poisonings (excluding recreational drug use). Most of these visits (over 80%) involve children accessing medicine when no adult is watching.

Children under 5 years old are twice as likely as older children to visit an emergency department for an adverse drug event, and one out of every 180 two-year-olds is treated for a medication poisoning each year. 

Prevention starts with safe storage, supervision, and quick action if an exposure occurs.

Never leave children alone with medications, even briefly. Young children are most often exposed to medication when they:

• Find medicine left out on counters, tables, or nightstands
• Access unlocked cabinets, purses, backpacks, or diaper bags
• Swallow medication when an adult steps away for "just a moment"

Help keep children safe with these storage tips:

• Store all medications in locked or child-resistant cabinets, out of sight and out of reach
• Take medicine with you if you need to answer the phone, door, or step away
• Put medication away immediately after use.
• Keep medicines in their original containers with labels intact
• Choose child-resistant packaging and make sure it is closed properly every time

If you think a child may have been exposed to medication, call Poison Control right away. Experts can help you decide what to do next, often without a trip to the emergency room. 

Florida's Poison Control Centers Emergency Hotline:

800-222-1222

Unused, unnecessary, or expired medications can put children at risk.

• Remove unused medications from your home promptly
• Use authorized medication drop-off locations whenever possible
• Visit the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website to find a disposal site