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  • Kids grow up fast.

  • As they do, we teach them as much as we can about safety.

  • Hi, I'm Benjamin Ortiz.

  • I'm a dad and a pediatrician at FDA.

  • One of the things kids will eventually need to know is how to use medicines safely.

  • But that doesn't mean they're ready to take medicine on their own.

  • Don't forget that all kids, regardless of age, should only use medicine under adult supervision.

  • When your kids are ready for this lesson, start by teaching them how to read medicine labels.

  • For prescription medicines, help your child understand that it's important to use the

  • medicine exactly as the doctor directed, like how much to take and when to take it.

  • For example, some medicines must be taken with food.

  • Others at bedtime.

  • For over the counter medicine, read the Drug Facts label together, and explain the information

  • that helps you choose the right medicine and explains how to use it safely.

  • Be sure to point out the ingredients and explain that taking more than one medicine at a time

  • can be very dangerous, because two different medicines may contain some of the same ingredients.

  • If taken together, the medicines might not work, or could even cause an overdose.

  • For liquid medicines, show your pre-teen how to measure the correct dose by using the measuring

  • tool that came with the medicine.

  • This tool may be a special cup, spoon or syringe.

  • Explain that other tools that are not meant for medicine, like spoons for cooking and

  • eating, could give a dose that is too high or too low.

  • For more tips on teaching older kids about medicine safety, visit fda.gov/medsinmyhome

Kids grow up fast.

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