About medicines that can poison children

Almost all prescribed and over-the-counter medicines can be poisonous to children if children take too much or the medicines are used incorrectly.

If you think a child in your care has been poisoned with medicine, stay calm. Gather what’s left of the medicine, take it or its packaging and the child to the phone, and call the Poisons Information Centre on 131 126. Don’t wait for symptoms – call straight away. Don’t treat the poisoning until you’ve had advice from the Poisons Information Centre. If the child stops responding, stops breathing or collapses, call an ambulance on 000.

Storing medicines safely: the key to poisoning prevention

Poisoning often happens when medicines are left where children can get them.

It’s essential to store medicines up high in a locked cupboard. If possible, the cupboard should be at least 1.5 m high and have child-resistant locks. And when you need to use a medicine, put it back in the cupboard immediately after use. Never leave medicines where children can get them.

Here are more tips for storing medicines safely:

  • Leave all medicines in their original containers.
  • Ask your pharmacist to put child-resistant caps on medicine bottles if they don’t already have them. But remember that child-resistant caps are not child proof. You still need to store these medicines up high in a locked cupboard.
  • Always put caps back on bottles correctly and immediately after use.
  • Use a lockable container for medicines that you need to store in the fridge.
  • Clean out your medicine cupboard regularly. Return unwanted and out-of-date medicines to your local pharmacist for safe disposal.
  • Separate measuring cups and droppers used for medicine from your other kitchen utensils.
  • Rinse empty medicine containers with water before you discard or recycle them.

When children need to take medicine: preventing medicine poisoning

If your child needs to take medicine, poisoning prevention involves checking that your child is getting the right medicine in the right amount at the right time.

These tips can help:

  • If your child needs to take medicine, read the label, dosage and instructions carefully. Double-check everything before you give your child the medicine.
  • If you’re not sure how much medicine to give or for how long, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also call 1300 MEDICINE, 9 am-5 pm, Monday to Friday, to speak to a registered pharmacist.
  • Check that you’re giving the right medicine to your child, especially if your child takes different medicines or several children in your household take medicines.
  • If someone else regularly gives your child medicine, set up a ‘checking system’ to avoid giving your child double doses. Write down the time and dose each time you give your child their medicine. Keep this information with the medicine.
  • Make sure that anyone who doesn’t regularly give your child medicine has the information needed to give it in the correct way. This includes people like babysitters, early childhood educators and so on.
  • Avoid distractions when giving your child medicines. If possible, have a routine for giving or taking medicines. And always supervise while your child is taking medicine.
  • When you’re giving medicine to your child, take care that other children can’t reach the medicine.

Safe medicine use around children

These general tips for safe medicine use can help you prevent medicine poisoning:

  • Avoid taking medicine in front of your child, because they might copy you if they get access to medicine.
  • Refer to medicines by their proper names. This is better than calling them ‘special lollies’, which can confuse your child and tempt your child to try them.
  • Keep bags away from your child’s reach and ask visitors to do the same, because bags can contain medicine. Take care when visiting others, including older people. They might not be used to having children around and might leave medicine within easy reach. Check to make sure your child can’t get to their medicines.

Dangerous medicines

Some common medicines that can harm and even kill your child are:

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Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

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