Don't forget the meds

Going to the Emergency Room? 

--A tip every parent should know--

1 in 5 children are brought to the emergency room (ER) every year.  With statistics as staggering as this, there may unfortunately be a time when you have to bring your child to the emergency room for medical evaluation.

Having your ill child admitted to the hospital is never a fun experience, but there are a few tips that will make the experience less taxing on you and facilitate the medical care for your little ones.

While most parents know the vast majority of their child’s medical history, the area which is often forgotten or incorrect is what medication(s) they are currently taking.  This is in-part due to the fact that it is difficult to recall such details when parents are only concerned with their child’s well-being and also because hospital admissions often occur during the late hours of the night or early morning when parents have been awake for many hours and brains aren’t functioning at 100% efficiency.

·         Tip: Keep a paper or computerized list of what medications your child is currently taking.

o   There should be 5 things written for each medication

§  1. Medication name, 2. Strength, 3. Dose (how much is given each time), 4. Number of times per day that it is given and the route (i.e. by mouth, nebulizer, etc.), and 5.  How many days they are supposed to be on the medication.

§  The strength is almost always listed after the name of the medication.

·         i.e. – Amoxicillin 200mg/5mL   ß this is the strength

o   Because lists can get long and can change frequently, have a copy saved on your computer or Smartphone so it can be updated immediately after a medication is changed.

o   Don’t forget to include all over-the-counter medications!

·         Remembering to print a list of medications before leaving for the ER is not always on a parent’s mind, so keep a copy stored in your email, your purse or wallet, and also another copy in your car.

This easy but often forgotten tip will help you, the medical team, and most importantly, your child.

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