USA, CDC: Many young children overdosing from medicines at home

[Emily]

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2....html?s_cid=2011_p1213_Medicine_overdose.html

Press Release

For Immediate Release: December 13, 2011
Contact: CDC Division of News & Electronic Media

Many young children overdosing from medicines at home
New educational program reminds parents to keep medication ?Up and Away and Out of Sight?

Each year, one of every 150 two?year?olds visits an emergency department in the United States for an unintentional medication overdose, most often after finding and eating or drinking medicines without adult supervision. To inform parents and caregivers about safe medication storage and what to do in case of an emergency, CDC, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association Education Foundation and a coalition of partners are launching an educational program, Up and Away and Out of Sight, encouraging parents to follow a few simple steps to protect children.
?Parents may not be aware of the danger posed by leaving medications where young children can reach them. In recent years, the number of accidental overdoses in young children has increased by 20 percent,? said Dan Budnitz, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC?s Medication Safety Program. ?A few simple steps ? done every time ? can protect our children.?...