Alcohol, Drug, or Poison Ingestion in Children: Care Instructions

Overview

A child can become very sick, or die, from swallowing alcohol, drugs, or poisons.

Alcohol is in beer, wine, and spirits. But it also is in mouthwash and food extracts. A child can become ill after swallowing only a little bit.

Drugs include over-the-counter medicine (such as aspirin or acetaminophen) and prescription medicine. They also include vitamins and supplements. And they include illegal drugs, such as cocaine and heroin.

And poisons are all around us. They include household cleaners, cosmetics, houseplants, and garden chemicals.

The best way to protect your child is to make sure that all alcohol, medicine, and household products are kept out of sight. This is a good time to check around your house to make sure that your child can't get to them.

The doctor has checked your child carefully, but problems can develop later. If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away.

Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and contact your doctor if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.

How can you care for your child at home?

Follow your doctor's instructions about closely watching your child's health and behavior.

Prevention

• Keep all alcohol, drugs, and poisons out of sight. For example:
  • Do not take your medicines in front of your child because they may try to do what you do.
  • Never leave alcohol, medicines, or household products out when you are not in the room.
  • Guests may have medicines with them. Make sure that guests keep their bags out of the reach of your child.
  • Keep products in the containers they came in. Keep the original labels on them.
    • Be careful when you use cleaning products, paints, solvents, and pesticides. Read labels before use. Use a fan to move strong odors and fumes out of your home.
    • Do not mix cleaning products. Try to use nontoxic cleaners. These include vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda.
    • Do not keep products like oven cleaner and dishwasher soap under the kitchen sink.
  • Remove poisonous plants from your home.

When should you call for help?

If you see your child swallow poison or you think that your child has swallowed some, stay calm. Call the Poison Control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 or use their online tool at triage.webpoisoncontrol.org for help. Have the product, alcohol, or medicine container with you so you can give complete information to the poison control center, such as what the poison or substance is, how much was taken, how it was taken, and when. Do not try to make the child vomit. The poison control center can tell you what to do right away.

Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:

• Your child passes out (loses consciousness).
• Your child is confused or is very sleepy.
• Your child has severe trouble breathing.
• Your child has a seizure.

Contact your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

• Your child has new symptoms or is not acting normally.

Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

• Your child does not get better as expected.