Do You Make These Mistakes When Giving Your Children Medicine?

Credit:  US FDA

Every 8 minutes a child experiences a medication error, report doctors from Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio. One of the most common errors by parents and caregivers is giving children the same medicine twice. Other medication mistakes include:

• giving the wrong dose of medicine
• confusing the units of measurement for the medication
• giving the wrong medication

These mistakes are most common in children under age 6. Luckily, in over 90 percent of these cases the children did not need treatment at a hospital or clinic.

The key to safely administering medicines to your child is summed up in 3 points:

• Right Dose
• Right Time
• Right Way

Right Dose
Make sure you understand the amount of medicine you are supposed to give your child and how to measure the dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure. If you need to measure a dose of medicine, use the dosing device that came with the medicine or one made specifically for measuring medications.

Right Time

Credit:  Medline Plus

Have your doctor or pharmacist explain how often you need to give your child the medication.  Use a diary or phone to schedule reminders. Mark in your diary or phone when you gave the medication.  If more than one person is going to give the medicine to your child,  keep a list with the medicine so each person can note the day and time the medication was given.

Right Way
Sometimes the medicine tastes terrible or the tablets are hard to swallow and you wonder what you should do. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before crushing tablets or mixing medication with food or drink.

For more guidance on administering medications to children see:

Parents
OTC Safety
Safe Kids
JAMA Pediatrics


The report, "Out-of-Hospital Medication Errors Among Young Children in the United States, 2002 - 2012" is published in the journal Pediatrics.

©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action
THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.  ANY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT A CHILD'S HEALTH OR MEDICINE SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.