Medicine Poisoning Incident Increasing

According to a new report, accidental medication poisoning sends tens of thousands of kids to the ER every year. Sixty seven thousand kids have to go to the emergency room, which means one every eight minutes. In the most recent data of kids under the age of five, 25 of them died. Kate Carr is president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide, which released the report. She says incidents of accidental medicine poisoning have been on the rise.  “In the past decade we have seen a 30% increase in the number of emergency department visits for accidental medication exposures, so that is a pretty significant increase.” Carr explains how to avoid accidental poisoning.  “Every single time you are using a medication, make sure you put it up and away, that is the most important thing to do.” Kids under age two are most susceptible to medicine poisoning, concludes Carr. “We are talking about younger kids, we are talking about kids who are five and under and the greatest incidents really involve kids who are between one and two.” Talk to your kids about the dangers of prescription medicines.  Explain to them that only the person prescribed the medication should take it.