Manufacturers know we like pretty things. We will pay more for items in our favorite color or with our favorite character or team logo. But having lots of pretty things around the house or in your purse may be dangerous for your kids.
Little kids know what’s pretty, too. Cough drops, vitamins or even cleaning products can come in pretty packages and might look good to eat for a toddler. One prescription cough drop has received a special labeling by the FDA due to accidental overdose by children. Some of the children died.
In a small child it doesn’t take a lot to overdose. What may be a normal dose for an adult can be fatal in children. Symptoms can be immediate with some overdoses, but many times they are not apparent for many hours. If you think your child (or even a pet) has been playing with a dangerous medicine or household chemical it is better to call poison control immediately.
Poison control centers can advise you on what symptoms to look for, whether you should let your child eat or drink and if a trip to the emergency room might be needed. Don’t assume that anything is safe for children, or even adults in large quantities.
Even some vitamins can be toxic or lethal in large doses. It is important to keep anything that might be swallowed out of reach and locked away. It is easy to get lazy when children aren’t around your home frequently, so if anyone stops by with children or pets take a look around before you let them loose to play.
Out of reach may not be enough for some enterprising kids. Just because they didn’t know how to pull up a chair to reach the kitchen counters yesterday doesn’t mean they won’t figure it out today.
Thousands of children are hospitalized due to accidental overdose every year. Some have permanent health problems from it, and some die. Since you can’t really watch your kids 24 hours every day, keep them safe by locking things up.