Spotlight PARENTING | ADVICE How to keep children safe from accidental medicine poisoning Dr. Mary Beth Miotto American Academy of Pediatrics Jan 18, 2026 Jan 18, 2026 Updated Apr 23, 2026 0 Adobe Stock Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Dr. Mary Beth Miotto American Academy of Pediatrics Each year, about 50,000 children under age 5 end up in emergency departments for poisoning after swallowing medicine unintentionally.kAm|65:42E:@?D 2C6 >62?E E@ :>AC@G6 2?5 D2G6 =:G6D] qFE H96? 2 >65:4:?6 86ED :?E@ E96 HC@?8 92?5D 2?5 :D E2<6? 3J 2 49:=5 @C E66?[ E96 C6DF=ED 42? 36 5625=J] %92E’D H9J 2== AC6D4C:AE:@? 5CF8D[ @G6C\E96\4@F?E6C >65:4:?6D 2?5 DFAA=6>6?ED D9@F=5 36 DE@C65 D276=J 2?5 <6AE @FE @7 C6249]k^AmkAmtG6? D>2== 2>@F?ED @7 4@>>@? >65:4:?6D 42? 36 5625=J 7@C 323:6D 2?5 J@F?8 49:=5C6? — D@>6E:>6D ;FDE 2 A:== @C EH@] %9:D :?4=F56D 76G6C 2?5 A2:? >65:4:?6D[ AC6D4C:AE:@? @A:@:5D[ 962CE 2?5 5:236E6D >65:42E:@?D[ 2?5 6G6? G:E2>:?D @C 4@>>@? DFAA=6>6?ED DF49 2D :C@?] %66?286CD 42? D@>6E:>6D >2<6 A@@C 49@:46D H:E9 A:==D[ 6DA64:2==J AC6D4C:AE:@?D[ H:E9 EC28:4 C6DF=ED]k^Am People are also reading… McDowell high school victim testified before former guidance counselor pleads guilty to sex crimes Former McDowell High volleyball coach, counselor pleads guilty to child sex crimes mid-trial This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer 5 questions answered about the trial of former McDowell High counselor Jessica Finley Old Fort man charged with threatening clerk of court in McDowell County McDowell County park may get updates to trails, disc golf course, fishing access Trial against former McDowell High volleyball coach accused of sex crimes began Wednesday Freight train travels through Old Fort for first time since Hurricane Helene’s devastation He got a tattoo to commemorate a Fred Durst concert in Morganton. It never actually happened. QB Bryce Young gets honest about Panthers' big change on offense for 2026 Walt Bagwell named Marion’s Main Street Champion. "His contributions make a meaningful difference." McDowell County Schools alum went from Battle of Books to biomedical engineering Brush fire burns along Interstate 40 near Nebo; traffic down to one lane Mission Hospital McDowell’s Emergency Services recognized nationally as Unit of Distinction McDowell County restoring storm-damaged parks; cost expected to be more than $1 million kAmx7 J@FC 49:=5 :D F?4@?D4:@FD[ ?@E 3C62E9:?8[ 92G:?8 D6:KFC6D @C @E96C H@CC:D@>6 DJ>AE@>D 7C@> A@DD:3=6 A@:D@? 4@?E24E @C :?86DE:@?[ 42== h`` @C J@FC =@42= 6>6C86?4J ?F>36C] x7 J@FC 49:=5 92D >:=5 @C ?@ DJ>AE@>D[ 42== @C 6>2:= E96 !@:D@? r6?E6C[ g__\aaa\`aaa @C k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^!@:D@?w6=A]@C8Qm!@:D@?w6=A]@C8k^2m]k^Amk9am$E@C6 >65:42E:@?D AC@A6C=Jk^9amkAmyFDE =:<6 J@F AC@E64E J@FC 49:=5 :? J@FC G69:4=6 3J FD:?8 42C D62ED 2?5 D62E 36=ED[ J@F ?665 E@ AC@E64E J@FC 49:=5C6? 2E 9@>6 3J =@4<:?8 FA >65:4:?6D 2?5 @E96C 4@>>@? 9@FD69@=5 A@:D@?D] w6C6 2C6 D@>6 >65:4:?6 D276EJ E:AD 7@C A2C6?ED[ 8C2?5A2C6?ED 2?5 2?J@?6 H9@ 92D 2 49:=5 @C E66? :? E96:C 9@>6]k^Am kAm&D6 >65:4:?6 4@?E2:?6CD H:E9 D276EJ 42AD E92E 2C6 49:=5\C6D:DE2?E] r9:=5C6? >:89E DE:== 36 23=6 E@ @A6? 49:=5\C6D:DE2?E 42AD[ D@ <66A E96> @FE @7 D:89E 2?5 C6249]k^AmkAm$E@C6 2== AC6D4C:AE:@? 2?5 @G6C\E96\4@F?E6C >65:4:?6D 2?5 DFAA=6>6?ED :? E96:C @C:8:?2= A24<286D :? =@4<65 423:?6ED @C 4@?E2:?6CD] $276EJ =2E496D E92E =@4< H96? J@F 4=@D6 2 423:?6E 5@@C 42? 96=A <66A 49:=5C6? 2H2J 7C@> 92C>7F= AC@5F4ED[ 3FE E96J 5@ ?@E 2=H2JD H@C<] q6 DFC6 E@ AFE E96 >65:4:?6D 324< C:89E 27E6C FD:?8 E96>]k^AmkAm#6>:?5 323JD:EE6CD[ 8C2?5A2C6?ED 2?5 @E96C G:D:E@CD E@ <66A AFCD6D[ 328D @C ;24<6ED E92E 92G6 >65:4:?6D :? E96> 2H2J 7C@> 49:=5C6?VD C6249]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm(96? E2<:?8 >65:4:?6[ 5@ :E @G6C 2 32E9C@@> D:?< 2?5^@C 2H2J 7C@> 4@>>@? 2C62D @7 J@FC 9@>6 :? 42D6 J@F 5C@A @C DA:== :E] x7 J@F DA:== >65:4:?6[ 4=62? :E FA :>>65:2E6=J] u@C >2?J @A:@:5D 2?5 @E96C A@H6C7F= A2:?<:==6CD[ 6G6? 2 D>2== 2>@F?E 4@?DF>65 @C 23D@C365 E9C@F89 E96 D<:? W=:BF:5 2?5 A2E496DX 42? 36 =:76\E9C62E6?:?8]k^AmkAmxE’D :>A@CE2?E E@ ?6G6C C676C E@ >65:4:?6 2D Q42?5JQ @C 2?@E96C 2AA62=:?8 ?2>6] %9:D 42? 4@?7FD6 @C E6>AE 2 49:=5 E@ ECJ @E96C A:==D H96? J@FVC6 ?@E H2E49:?8]k^Amk9amp5>:?:DE6C E96> 4@CC64E=Jk^9am kAmq6 42C67F= E@ 8:G6 E96 4@CC64E 5@D6 2?5 >62DFC6 :E @FE 6I24E=J] %9:D :?4=F56D C625:?8 E96 =236= 6249 E:>6 J@F 8:G6 @G6C\E96\4@F?E6C 5CF8D =:<6 246E2>:?@A96? 2?5 :3FAC@76?] v:G:?8 E96 HC@?8 5@D6 @7 2 >65:42E:@? 3J >:DE2<6 :D 2 4@>>@? >65:42E:@? 6CC@C E92E =625D E@ 6>6C86?4J 56A2CE>6?E G:D:ED] &D6 2 >65:4:?6 DJC:?86 @C 5C@AA6C E@ 6?DFC6 E96 4@CC64E 5@D286 :D 8:G6?[ 2?5 ?6G6C FD6 25F=E\DEC6?8E9 >65:42E:@?D 7@C 49:=5C6?]k^Am kAmu@==@H 5@D:?8 2?5 E:>:?8 :?DECF4E:@?D 8:G6? E@ J@F 3J J@FC 5@4E@C] x7 J@F 7@C86E E@ 8:G6 2 5@D6[ 8:G6 :E 2D D@@? 2D A@DD:3=6 2?5 8:G6 E96 ?6IE 5@D6 2E E96 4@CC64E E:>6 7@==@H:?8 E96 =2E6 5@D6] s@ ?@E 8:G6 EH@ 5@D6D 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6 @C 6IEC2 5@D6D H:E9@FE DA62<:?8 H:E9 J@FC 5@4E@C]k^Am kAmx7 J@F 2C6 F?DFC6 23@FE 9@H @C H96E96C E@ 8:G6 J@FC 49:=5 2 >65:4:?6[ 4964< H:E9 J@FC 5@4E@C @C A92C>24:DE] *@F 42? 6G6? 2D< E@ 36 D9@H? 9@H E@ 25>:?:DE6C E96 4@CC64E 5@D6 @C 2D< E96> E@ HC:E6 E96 :?DECF4E:@?D 5@H? 7@C =2E6C C676C6?46]k^AmkAmv:G6 >65:42E:@?D E92E EC62E DJ>AE@>D WDF49 2D 2 =@?8\=2DE:?8 4@F89X @?=J :7 J@FC 49:=5 ?665D E96>] ~G6C\E96\4@F?E6C 4@F89 @C 4@=5 >65:4:?6D 42? 92G6 D6C:@FD D:56 67764ED 2?5 2C6 ?@E C64@>>6?565 7@C 49:=5C6? F?56C e J62CD] %96J D9@F=5 ?6G6C 36 FD65 :? 49:=5C6? F?56C a]k^Am kAmv:G6 @?6 >65:42E:@? 2E 2 E:>6] r@=5 >65:42E:@?D @7E6? 92G6 >@C6 E92? @?6 EJA6 @7 >65:4:?6 :? @?6 3@EE=6 W2 A2:? C6=:6G6C DF49 2D 246E2>:?@A96? A=FD 2 4@F89 >65:4:?6X] s@ ?@E 8:G6 2 >65:4:?6 7@C 76G6C @C A2:? :7 J@F 92G6 2=C625J 8:G6? 2 4@=5 >65:4:?6 E92E 92D 2 76G6C @C A2:? >65:4:?6 :? :E]k^Am kAmx7 J@FC 49:=5 92D 2 76G6C @G6C `_a u 2?5 :D F?4@>7@CE23=6[ J@F 42? 8:G6 >65:4:?6 E@ =@H6C :E] u6G6C :D 2 D:8? E92E E96 3@5J :D 7:89E:?8 E96 :?764E:@?[ 2?5 >65:4:?6 E@ 3C:?8 E96 76G6C 5@H? :D 2? :DDF6 @7 4@>7@CE] k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story At-home STD tests offer new options for screening and treatment New options for testing and treating some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases are becoming available, a trend that experts hope w… 2-month-olds see the world in a more complex way than scientists thought, study suggests A new study suggests that babies can distinguish between objects at 2 months old, earlier than scientists previously thought. Colorectal cancer is rising in younger adults. Here's who is most at risk and what to watch for Colorectal cancer is a threat not just to older adults but increasingly to young men and women, too. It's now the top cancer killer of America… More kids are in ERs for tooth pain. Trump cuts, RFK’s anti-fluoride fight aren’t helping Across the nation, more children are entering ERs for preventable tooth problems. Policy changes under the Trump administration are poised to … What to know about new vaccine guidance and why doctors are worried The changes come as U.S. vaccination rates have been slipping and the share of children with exemptions has reached an all-time high, accordin… For better oral health, start with these 5 steps for daily dental care One of the best things you can do for your overall health as you age is a daily routine you've followed since childhood. Flu is rising rapidly, driven by a new variant. Here's what to know It's far too soon to know if this flu season will be as severe as last winter's. However, it's not too late to get a flu shot.
At-home STD tests offer new options for screening and treatment New options for testing and treating some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases are becoming available, a trend that experts hope w…
2-month-olds see the world in a more complex way than scientists thought, study suggests A new study suggests that babies can distinguish between objects at 2 months old, earlier than scientists previously thought.
Colorectal cancer is rising in younger adults. Here's who is most at risk and what to watch for Colorectal cancer is a threat not just to older adults but increasingly to young men and women, too. It's now the top cancer killer of America…
More kids are in ERs for tooth pain. Trump cuts, RFK’s anti-fluoride fight aren’t helping Across the nation, more children are entering ERs for preventable tooth problems. Policy changes under the Trump administration are poised to …
What to know about new vaccine guidance and why doctors are worried The changes come as U.S. vaccination rates have been slipping and the share of children with exemptions has reached an all-time high, accordin…
For better oral health, start with these 5 steps for daily dental care One of the best things you can do for your overall health as you age is a daily routine you've followed since childhood.
Flu is rising rapidly, driven by a new variant. Here's what to know It's far too soon to know if this flu season will be as severe as last winter's. However, it's not too late to get a flu shot.
