subject: More Kids Poisoned by Over the Counter Drugs than by Household Chemicals [print this page] If a child accidentally swallows over the counter medicine or prescription drugs, call your local Poison Control Center or the Poison Help Hotline (800-222-1222) before calling 911 - unless the child is unresponsive, having trouble breathing, or experiencing seizures or convulsions. Have the medication bottle handy so that you can describe what they took, and be prepared to tell the Poison Control staff his or her height and weight, and how much they took. Most of the time, you will be able to treat the child at home. The death rate from childhood poisonings is happily quite low, with just 26 deaths in children five and under in 2008 in the US, despite over one million poisonings.
More Kids Poisoned by Over the Counter Drugs than by Household Chemicals
