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If your child has ingested a poisonous substance (including vitamins, over the counter medicines, prescription medicines, household cleaners, etc.), you should notify your local poison control center (1-800-222-1222) for further treatment and instructions.
Activate your local emergency services if your child has come in contact with a poison and is unresponsive or is not breathing.
Although it has long been advised that you should have syrup of ipecac on hand in case you are instructed to induce vomiting, the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that 'syrup of ipecac should no longer be used routinely as a poison treatment intervention in the home' and that parents should 'safely dispose of the syrup of ipecac currently in their homes.'
Why the change? It was never really proven that it helps for parents to give kids ipecac at home. A new study confirmed thes and showed that 'Home Syrup of Ipecac Use Does Not Reduce Emergency Department Use or Improve Outcome'.
Also, syrup of ipecac was sometimes abused and used inappropriately. For example, being used by bulimics to induce vomiting, by parents with Munchausen's syndrome by proxy, and as a poison.
A new policy statement from the AAP, 'Poison Treatment in the Home', advises that instead of using syrup of ipecac, the 'first action for a caregiver of a child who may have ingested a toxic substance should be to consult with the local poison control center for help.'
So, be prepared by knowing your local poison center's phone number and keep it posted with a list of emergency numbers by your phone.
Poll: Did you have or ever use syrup of ipecac?
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