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@>>@? 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