Medication storage:

• Keep all your medications including the over-the-counter (OTC) medications and supplements in a LOCKED cabinet out of the reach and view of children. Never leave your medications on countertops or tables.
• Child-resistant bottles do not guarantee the safety of your children. The only safe bottles are the ones that your children cannot get to.
• Topical medications (e.g. steroid cream, fentanyl/lidocaine/nicotine patches, etc.) can be dangerous for children. Keep children away from those medications and always wash your hands after handling any topicals to avoid transferring them to your children’s skin.
• Do not flush old medications down the toilet. Dispose of expired or no-longer-needed medications in appropriate locations such as your local pharmacy or police department. Make sure you seal the medications before throwing them away.
• When visiting other households, keep an eye out for potential poisoning hazards. Communicate with the hosts to make sure that all medications and supplements are kept away from children.

Giving your kids the correct medications:

• When giving your children OTC medications, make sure to read the labels carefully and only give the recommended amount. Talk to your pharmacist or physician if you have any questions about OTC medications.
• Make sure you use the correct measuring tools. Use measuring spoons instead of household ones to measure out liquid medications. A medicine syringe is also an accurate and safe option to give your children the right amount of medication. You can also get appropriate measuring devices at your local NuCara pharmacy.
• If your children take multiple doses in a day, document each dose on a chart or make marks on the bottle to help you remember how many doses are given.

Other tips:

• Teach your children about medication safety. Let them know that medications are not candy. If your children are old enough, talk to them about their own medications. Read the directions out loud to them and discuss how to take the medications safely.
• Keep a list of all your children’s medications including OTC medications and supplements. Share the medication list with your health care providers.
• If your children take extra doses of medication or ingest others by mistake, contact the Poison Control Center (phone number: 1-800-222-1222).
• If your children accidentally take any medications or substances and appear seriously ill, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.

Your NuCara pharmacists are dedicated to keep you and your family safe and are always happy to help you if you have any questions or concerns.