Poisoning Myths Debunked
Myth: There is no need to worry about medicine that is stored in childproof containers, such as a bottle of painkillers.
FACT: There is no such thing as a childproof container. Children have been known to bite into bottles of Apririn, breaking the bottle and eating all the pills inside. Child-resistant packaging is designed to slow children down, by making it harder to open the container.
Myth: Keep medicine stored in high places, where children can't reach it.
FACT: Children, even very small ones, can climb on countertops and tables to reach a medicine cabinet stored in a high place. Always store medicine in a locked container, such as a fishing tackle box with a lock.
Myth: Vitamins do not need to be locked up.
FACT: Vitamins are medicine and even a small overdose can cause serious harm to a child, particularly vitamin A and iron. If you think your child has overdosed on vitamins, call the Poison Control Centre immediately. And remember to never tell children that vitamins (or medicine) are candy as a way of encouraging them to take it.
Myth: Herbal and naturopathic remedies are safer than medicine and do not need to be locked up.
FACT: Herbal medications and natural remedies can be just as dangerous as prescription drugs and over- the-counter medications. Keep them locked up!
Myth: Poinsettia plants are toxic.
FACT: A poinsettia plant is not toxic, although like any foreign body it can be a choking hazard. Holly and mistletoe, however, are both poisonous plants. If your child has eaten more than 10 holly berries or three mistletoe berries, take her to the hospital. Always know the name of the plants in and around your home.
Myth: If it tastes bad, children won't want to eat it.
FACT: Children do overdose on products that don't taste good, including cough syrup! Call the Poison Control Centre if your child has swallowed more than the normal dose.
Myth: Alcohol is not toxic.
FACT: Even a small amount of alcohol, sometimes as little as a few gulps, can be harmful to a child. Don't wait until the next morning to clean up after a party. Don't leave a few half-empty glasses of wine on the coffee table. Keep alcohol well out of reach of children.
Myth: If a child swallows something poisonous, you should try to make them vomit.
FACT: Trying to induce vomiting is the worst thing you can do. This can cause serious throat trauma. Many children have to be rushed to an emergency department not from the substance they have ingested, but from throat trauma caused by a parent trying to induce vomiting (such as sticking a finger down the child's throat).
If you think your child has been poisoned, call the Ontario Regional Poison Information Centre at Sick Kids immediately: 1-800-268-9017 or 416-813-5900. The Poison Information Centre provides free information and advice to the general public and health professionals.
Reproduced with Permission from Kids' Health , Winter 2002, Vol 3, issue iv, pg, 14-15 The Hospital for Sick Children, www.sickkids.ca
