Protect Medicines From The Child's Range, Protect Your Little One From The Risk Of Poisoning

JAKARTA - Happiness vacations with extended families can turn into a disaster if parents don't pay attention to things that have the potential to harm children, such as letting drugs be in easy-to-reach places.

Dr. Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency doctor based in Florida, United States, is reminiscent of the dangers referred to as "a grandmother's wallet syndrome" during the holiday season. This phenomenon occurs when curious children find and swallow medicines belonging to their grandparents, which are often stored in unsafe places such as low shelves, handbags, or regular drug containers.

"A total of 20 percent of cases of poisoning in small children are caused by them accidentally swallowing medicines belonging to grandparents," said Dr. Martin, who is also actively sharing health education on TikTok under the name Beachgem10, as quoted by ANTARA.

He emphasized that drugs such as pain relievers, antidepressants, heart drugs, hypertension drugs, or diabetes drugs can be very dangerous for children. In fact, just one pill can cause serious poisoning.

Dr. Martin suggested parents to ensure that all drugs are stored in a locked place or a location that cannot be reached by children. He also warned against taking medication in front of children, as they tend to imitate adult actions.

"Never refer to drugs as candy. Candy is safe to eat, but medicine is not," he explained, stressing the importance of providing a correct understanding to children about the differences between the two.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States, about 49 children under the age of 10 die each year from accidental poisoning.

Therefore, it is important to ensure that drugs and other dangerous items are stored in a safe place, away from the reach of children and pets, especially during a busy holiday period.

With simple prevention measures, vacations with family can remain fun without lurking health risks.