Vitamins w/ Iron Can Be Deadly for Children Under 6
Mar 16 '00 (Updated Mar 19 '00)
I just returned from the store with two locking cash boxes. I didn’t buy the boxes to lock up valuables. I purchased the lock boxes to prevent my most valuable possessions from getting into the lock box. These lock boxes will be used to store medications. And my most valuable possessions, my children, will not be able to open the boxes.
One morning this week, while I was reading the newspaper in the family room. My 4 year old son was coloring in the kitchen. I noticed he was not at the kitchen table and saw him standing on the counter. I went to see what he was doing. There he stood with a bottle of children’s vitamins with iron in one hand and a handful of vitamins in the other. I had not used this bottle of vitamins for several months and I could not recall how many were left in the bottle.
I grabbed the phone and called the 800 number for Poison Control. Mark at the Poison Control center answered my call. I was panicking and really not completely listening to his questions. He calmed me down. I was able to answer his questions regarding the vitamins, the milligrams per pill, my son’s age, his weight and if he was on any other medications. I was instructed to give my son one tablespoon of Ipecac Syrup followed by 10 ounces of liquid.
While my son was lying down, I used a syringe and shot the Ipecac syrup down the back of his throat while pinching his nose closed. When the nose is pinched closed, it makes the child involuntarily swallow. I administered the Ipecac syrup and the required liquid. Within 20 minutes he had vomited. I reported to Poison Control the results and was given instructions for the day as well as danger signs to look for. If he had severe abdominal pain with black tar-like diarrhea, I was to immediately call Poison Control again. Fortunately, he vomited the vitamins using the Ipecac syrup and had no further complications.
I am writing this so you may learn from my mistakes and avoid an accidental overdose. I will always have a bottle of Ipecac Syrup available at all times. I will POST the telephone number for Poison Control. I had to fumble and dig out the telephone book. I will put all medications under lock and key. I will not rely on the child safety tops --- the vitamin bottle had a child safety top. My son opened the bottle. These tops are child resistant....NOT child proof!!
If you are a grandparent and your grandchildren visit, please be prepared with Ipecac syrup and the Poison Control number posted. Keep a safety box available to lock up your medications when the grandchildren visit. Especially, since many of the elderly do not purchase medications with child safety tops.
Iron overdose can be deadly, in fact, it is the leading cause of poisoning death in children under age 6. I will NEVER think it won’t happen to me. Please don’t think it won’t happen to you.
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Epinions.com ID:
KLTinTX
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Member: Kendra
Location: Houston, Texas area
Reviews written: 35
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