Kid-proof Your Medicine Cabinet

You’ve fallen asleep and your child has gotten into the medicine cabinet. It’s a mother’s worst nightmare.

Kid-proofing your medicine cabinet is key to the health of your children, what better time to tackle this project than when you’re doing your spring cleaning! Checking your medicine cabinet regularly will ensure (that its contents are stored safely) that you have the right medications on hand to deal with the most common childhood illnesses.

“A top concern for kid proofing a medicine cabinet is safe storage,” explains Tracey Phillips, Director, Pharmacy, Rexall™. “Always store your medication out of reach from your children in a cool, dry place; a large Tupperware container in a high bedroom cabinet or linen closet, do not store in the fridge unless directed to do so, and keep medication out of the washroom or kitchen where heat and humidity can impact its effectiveness.”

Here are some other helpful tips from Rexall™ to get you started:

• Do not call medicine candy. It is important that your child knows the difference.
• Take your unused or expired medications to your local Rexall™ family of pharmacies for environmentally safe and free disposal. Flushing medicine down the toilet or throwing it in the trash is harmful to the environment.
• Keep medication in its original labeled container so you know what’s in the bottle, its expiry date, and how to use it.
• The 5 most important items to have in your kid proof medicine cabinet are: assorted bandages, children’s formulations of short acting allergy relief medication, a pain reliever (either children’s acetaminophen or Ibuprofen), motion sickness medication, and a reusable hot/cold pack.

Speak with your Rexall™ family pharmacist for tips on the best way to kid proof your medicine cabinet. Visit www.rexall.ca/medicinecabinet for more information on ensuring a safe medicine cabinet.