Medications: out of sight and out of mind
Children want to learn as much as they can about the world around them. Their curiosity can be dangerous when it drives them to try medications kept around the home. Help keep your child from being curious about medications by locking them up and storing them out of reach.
Young children exploring their environments tend to put things in their mouths, so any medicines left around can be tempting, especially if they look like candy. Kids may also mimic adult behavior and think it's OK to take medications. Teenagers may take medications without a prescription to manage stress or deal with an injury, among other reasons.
Secure their safety
More than 50% of children live in homes where medicines aren’t always locked up. Don’t let your child be one of them. Follow these safe storage tips from Cook Children’s:
- Keep medicines in their original containers, which often have child-resistant caps.
- Store medicine in a medication lock box or in a locked cabinet or drawer.
- Place your lock box somewhere your child can’t access it, such as on the top shelf of your closet or in a locked drawer.
- Ensure your child takes medicine only when you or another trusted adult gives it to them.
By securely storing your medicines, you can keep your family safe for many more years to come.
Simple and safe disposal options
When you safely dispose of unused medications, you make your home a safer place for your child to play. Drop off your unwanted medications at one of these places:
- Cook Children's Retail Pharmacy locations.
- Most major retail pharmacies nationwide
- Many hospitals offer medication takeback drop off boxes
- National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Drug Disposal Locator Tool
- National Prescription Take Back Day locations. This nationwide event happens each spring and fall. Visit gov/takebackday to find a drop-off location.
- DEA: Every Day is Take Back Day location finder
More resources
- Poison Prevention Program | Center for Community Health
- What to Do About Poisoning | Cook Children's
- Poison Prevention Resources | Cook Children's