Most people consider their home as a safe place for their children. In fact it can be a dangerous place when it comes to childhood poisoning. The reasons are:

1. Children are curious

• Young children tend to put anything inside their mouth.
• Medicine bottles may look attractive to them.
• Some medicines or household products may look like food or drinks, particularly those with sweet taste or fruity scents.

2. Children like to imitate adults

• Taking medicine in front of children may be dangerous as they may follow your action.

3. Young children are not verbal

• They may not be able to express themselves clearly even when they are not feeling well.

4. Metabolism of children is different from that of adults

• Children have faster metabolic rates and are less able physically to handle toxic chemicals e.g. A few iron-containing vitamin tablets can be lethal to children due to liver damage.

The followings are the advice on prevention of drugs, medicines, and household products poisoning in children.

Western Medicine

DOs

• Read the labels and instructions carefully before giving medicine to your children.
• Dispose leftover or expired medicine properly to avoid accidental ingestion by your children.
• Give medicine in well lit place and wear your glasses if necessary.

DON'Ts

• Give extra amount of medicine to your children even if your children have missed the previous dose.
• Store medicine in food bottles or refer to medicine as candies.
• Take medicine in front of children. They may follow you.
• Give other people's medicines or those left from a previous consultation to your children. Different illnesses may have similar symptoms but require different treatments.
  

Household Products

DOs

• Keep children away from treated areas where there are pesticide residues.
• Handle the household products carefully when you are using them. Your children may ingest them when you are focusing on your work.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with water and soap immediately after using household products.

DON'Ts

• Apply the products more than necessary. The residual products may be poisonous to your children.
• Apply pesticides directly to household utensils or surface used for food preparation.
• Eat or drink when applying pesticides.
• Allow your children to use household products without appropriate supervision.

Chinese Medicine

DOs

• Read carefully the instructions and labels on the proprietary Chinese medicine or Chinese herbal medicine before giving them to your children.
• Process the Chinese medicine for your children according to the instructions.
• Request for your child's prescription form.

DON'Ts

• Develop your own Chinese formulary for your children.
• Use formulary which is not developed for your children including those circulating in the market.
• Adjust the constituents and dosage of the Chinese medicine by yourself or substitute herbs with others of similar name or looking.

Important Points to Note:

• Take time to teach your children about poisoning.
• Tell your children not to put anything in their mouth.
• Tell your children that medicine and household products are not food or candies.
• Keep medicine and household products out of reach and sight of children.
• Keep medicine and household products in their original and labelled containers. The containers should be difficult for the children to open.
• Close the containers of medicine or household products immediately after use. Return them to their original places.
• Do not remove the labels on the medicine or household products.
• Do not leave children alone with medicine or household products which are not properly stored.
• Keep medicine and household products away from food and drinks to avoid contamination or accidental ingestion by your children.
• Dispose empty bottles and expired products properly. Recap the containers and dispose of them in a safe place out of reach of your children.
• Seek advice from your doctor, pharmacist or Chinese medicine practitioner if in doubt.

In Case of Suspected Poisoning:

• Keep calm;
• Seek your doctor's advice immediately;
• Call 999 emergency hotline immediately if the condition is serious, or the child is not arousable or is not breathing.

This publication is produced by the Hong Kong Poison Control Network.