26 The Courier sun • kids & education • july 30, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com kids & education AVOID AN ACCIDENT WITH POISON PREVENTION Nearly 1 million children under the age of 5 are exposed to potentially poisonous medications and household s chemicals every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And more than 60,000 young children end up in the emergency room each year from wrongly ingesting medications. It’s not only parents who need to be aware of the risks; many of these incidents occur outside of a child’s home. In fact, in 23 percent of the cases in which a child under age 5 mistakenly ingested an oral prescription drug, the medication belonged to someone who did not live with the child, such as an elderly relative or grandparent. Medications can be poisonous, too Parents know to keep household cleaners and other chemicals out of the reach of children, but should also be cautious about prescriptions, over-thecounter medications and vitamins. There is no better time than now, during Poison Prevention Week, to learn more about preventing accidental and unintentional poisonings. Here are some important tips you can share with family and friends. Be cautious of colors: Medications are colorful and attractive to children and can be mistaken for candy. For example, Tums look like SweeTarts, and Advil and Ecotrin resemble Skittles or M&M’s. Parents should not encourage children to take their medication by comparing it to candy, as this may lead to improper use. Lock it up: Don’t leave your next dose out on the counter where a child can reach it. Tightly secure caps and lock up all medications and vitamins in a cool, dry place. Keep medications in their original labeled containers so if there is an emergency, you can tell medical personnel exactly what the child ingested. Do not share: Be sure to remind children that they should never share their medications. When playing “doctor,” friends and younger siblings of those taking a medication are often the recipients, leading to an accidental poisoning. This is an important message for teens, too, as this behavior often leads to prescription-drug abuse. How to respond to accidental poisonings If you suspect a child has ingested a potentially poisonous substance, here is what you should do: Know your numbers: If the child has collapsed or is not breathing, dial 911 immediately. If the child is awake and alert, call the poison hotline at 800.222.1222 and follow the operator’s instructions. If possible, have available the victim’s age and weight, the container or bottle of the poison, the time of the poison exposure and the address where the poisoning occurred. Know the signs: Reactions to ingested medications or household products may vary. Look for signs such as vomiting, drowsiness and any residue odor on the child’s mouth and teeth. But know that some products cause no immediate symptoms, so if you suspect that your child has ingested a potentially hazardous substance, call the poison hotline immediately. Keep calm: It’s important to remain calm so you can effectively communicate with emergency personnel. If the child ingested medication, do not give anything to the child by mouth until advised by the poison control center. If chemicals or household products have been swallowed, call the poison control center immediately or follow the first aid instructions on the label. Medications can keep you healthy but can be extremely dangerous if taken by the wrong person or in the wrong amount. Add in a child’s insatiable curiosity, and you have the ingredients for a very serious and dangerous situation. Fortunately, with a little vigilance, you can keep your little ones safe. For more information, visit lab. express-scripts.com. Courtesy BPT Some of the most important learning that will ever happen has already taken place by the time a child is 4. Is your child on track? MKSA can answer your questions and guide you about your child’s development. 718-631-1110 or 888-239-0468 (Queens & Brooklyn) www.mksallc.com info@mksallc.com com Pediatric therapists wanted! Apply online at www.mksallc.com Reference WEB ID QBC 999 The Early Intervention Program is funded and regulated by the NYS Department of Health and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Services are provided at no out-of-pocket cost to families for children birth to age 3 who meet eligibility guidelines. MKSA is pleased to announce that Betty Aboff will be joining our staff as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Betty comes to MKSA with 25 years of experience in evaluating and servicing children ages birth to five with a range of speech-language delays. In addition to her clinical services, Betty has also supervised clinical fellows as well as graduate and undergraduate students. Children, parents and colleagues have benefited from her expertise, creativity, energy and enthusiasm, and describe Betty as “an excellent speech therapist, highly respected in the field, who puts 110% into everything she does; she is dedicated, loyal and always willing to help others.” Betty is very involved with Young Israel of West Hempstead and is involved in various Sisterhood committees which awarded her the Aishet Chayil Award. She also has served on many committees at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County. Betty is excited to be joining the MKSA staff and will be spearheading speech supervision in Queens and Brooklyn. Join us in welcoming Betty to our team! MKSA (a HASC subsidiary) provides a full range of early childhood and school age services. Early intervention evaluation, educational, therapeutic and support services are available for eligible children and their families throughout Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Manhattan. Preschool services are available in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and are jointly provided by MKSA and our parent company, HASC. MKSA also provides school age services in many districts throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. Private pay services are available as well. MKSA’s staff and providers have more than 17 years of experience working with children with developmental delays and their families. As one of the largest agencies in the area, MKSA provides a high level of quality services, using caring dedicated professionals. We support each child’s developmental potential by providing individualized programs tailored to each child’s specific needs. Our goal is to provide prompt, accurate evaluations, effective treatment for children’s developmental and educational concerns, and support for the entire family. For more information about MKSA, call 516-731-5588 or visit www.mksallc.com (new website coming soon!)
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