This webpage is a guide for parents and carers with advice about keeping medications and other household items safely at home and out of reach for your child’s safety. Please read it carefully.
Medication Storage at home
Keeping medication stored safely at home is paramount to ensuring your child’s safety. We would advice the following:
- Lock up medicines, preferably in a locked box, out of reach and sight of your children.
- Use any child-resistant packages and put the tops on tightly.
- Begin teaching safety rules of medicine to children at an early age.
- Return the household products and medicines to their storage place immediately after use.
- Always read the label and follow the directions on medicines and products.
- Call medicines by their proper names – the name printed on the pack, or on the pharmacy label.
- Always keep the medication with the original packaging with clear labels and instructions.
- Do not leave medications in purses, drawers or on the counter tops.
- Ensure your child has swallowed any medication by watching them take it and checking their mouth.
- Keep track of how much medication you should have and don’t keep high levels of medication stock.
- Dispose of unused, out of date or no longer required medications by giving them to local pharmacy.
- Do talk openly with your teenager about the dangers of medication misuse.
We would also recommend going through your home to identify sharp objects such as knives, scissors, razors, nails scissors and needles etc and also lock these them away or put them in less accessible places, dependant on the young persons risk to themselves.
Cleaning Products
Many products can be detrimental to health if ingested so please lock these away. If your child does ingest any products do go to A&E for treatment immediately.
If your child is struggling with intrusive thoughts and you feel they may be a risk to themselves, here is a simple list of ideas that can act as distraction or a form of self-soothing:
- Going for a walk, looking at things and listening to sounds
- Create something: drawing, writing, music or sculpture
- Keeping a diary or weblog
- Stroking or caring for a pet
- Watching TV or a movie
- Getting in touch with a friend
- Listening to soothing music
- Having a relaxing bath
- Clenching an ice cube in the hand until it melts
- Snapping an elastic band against the wrist
- Drawing on the skin with a red pen or red paint instead of cutting (self-harming)
- Do some sports or physical exercise
- Using a punchbag
- Hitting a pillow or other soft object
- Listening to or creating loud music
You can create and personalise My Safety Plan.
If you think your child has taken unprescribed or extra medication dial 999 immediately or take your child to A&E.
If you have any other urgent concerns about your child and medication, please contact the CYPS Crisis Line on 0800 915 4644.
Help us improve our website
Please take a moment to share your thoughts and help us enhance our website by completing our short survey here.