Medicines play a significant role in treating illnesses and conditions. But, no matter how beneficial they may be in treating sick people, they can also be very harmful when they are no longer needed or expired. Want to know why? This is because there is a very big threat of toddlers getting their hands on old medicine that is casually thrown everywhere. Thus, it is very important for parents to be aware that there are some ways on how to correctly dispose old medicine. Here is a guide that can help.

Read The Medication Label For Instructions

The most important tip on how to dispose old medicine is to check the label for disposal information. Make sure you carefully comply with the disposal directions on the label. If you are unsure how to discard your old medications, you can either contact your pharmacist or check out the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) website for a list of medications with special disposal directions.

Look For Take-Back Medicine Programs

There are different options to throw away old medications. Your first option is to call your pharmacy and ask if they provide the “take-back medicine” service. Most pharmacies offer a take-back medicine program. This option is a good way to get rid of old medicines from the home and decreases the chance of family members, especially toddlers to accidentally take the medicine. However, some pharmacies only offer such program once or twice a year while others do not partake in the program. If your nearest pharmacy does not offer it, ask around to check if there is another pharmacy in your area that has it. You may also get in touch with your county or city government’s household trash and recycling service to find out if there is a take-back program in your area or visit the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration website for details on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Events.

Search For A Waste Disposal Program

Your second option is a waste disposal program. Go over the yellow pages or make a call to your local hospital and ask if they can recommend dangerous waste disposal companies. Most of these waste disposal companies will take old medicines. You may need to pay the waste disposal company but at least you can have peace of mind that your old medications will be properly discarded.

Throw Away Old Medicines In The Trash

If the two options above are not available in your area, then you can throw away your old medicines in the household trash. You can do this by following these simple steps:
•    Remove the old medicine out of its container.
•    Take out the label on the original package before throwing it in the trash.
•    If the medicine is solid, crush or grind it and mix with water.
•    Wear gloves and then place the old medicine in a sealed plastic bag along with coffee grounds, sawdust, dirt, kitty litter or anything that would make the medicine inedible.
•    Place the container in another sealed plastic bag and then throw the bag in your household trash. See to it that you place the trash can where your little one cannot reach it.

Never Flush Old Medicines Down The Sink or Toilet

Never use your toilet or sink to dispose old medicine. Parents are no longer allowed to flush medicines down the toilet or pour them down the sink. This is because medications that are flushed down can end up in the water supply which can contaminate the water and slip through water infiltration systems which could cause more damage to the health.

As you can see, there are many options of disposing old medicines so there is no excuse for throwing away old medications carelessly. Remember, knowing how to dispose old medicine the right way is very important in keeping your toddler safe from any health hazard.

Being prepared for any emergency is something every individual must learn, including toddlers. Helping your toddler prepare for an emergency is not as hard as you think. Here are some basic tips about emergency preparedness for children.

Talk To Your Toddler

Instead of protecting your toddler from possible tragedies, educate your toddler about the different kinds of disasters. This is the best way to alleviate his fears. Talk about the difference between a problem and an emergency. A problem is something that he needs help with but does not need emergency services while an emergency requires immediate assistance. Encourage him to ask questions about fires, floods, earthquakes, etc. and make sure you answer them as clearly as possible. Provide various scenarios and ask your toddler how he would react to it. For instance, you can say “What would you do if there is an earthquake?” or “Who will you call if there is an intruder in the house?”. Doing this will help you evaluate what your toddler already knows as well as give him appropriate actions he must do during an emergency.

Come Up With A Plan

Plan escape routes with your toddler. Determine how you can get out of your house quickly, which exits to use and who to call in case of an emergency. Assign a meeting place where everyone can gather in case there is a need to evacuate and do a head count to ensure all members of the family are present.

Prepare An Emergency Kit Together

Organize an emergency kit with your toddler. Show him each item and explain its purposes. Items that must be present in an emergency kit include:

• Flashlights
• Battery-operated radio
• Extra batteries
• First-aid kit
• Bottled water
• Cash
• Important documents stored in a water-resistant and fireproof container (e.g. birth and marriage certificates, passports, insurance papers)
• 3-day supply of non-perishable foods for each family member (formula milk, canned soup, vegetables, meat and juice, granola bars, candies, dry pasta, crackers and cereals)
• Extra clothes
• Blankets
• Sanitation items (diaper, toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, etc.)
• A few books and toys

Practice

It is very important that you do practice runs on a regular basis. Act out what should be done if an emergency came up. Practice going to your basement to prepare for a tornado. Teach him to crawl out of your house, get under a sturdy table during an earthquake or how to tell if someone is breathing so he can pass the information to the 911 operator.

Conduct a surprise drill. Being under pressure is the best way to determine whether your toddler truly knows how to act during an emergency. Play “Black Out” one evening. Turn off all the lights in your home and get out flashlights. Spend at least 2 hours without electricity to see what your toddler would do.

It is normal for your toddler to feel scared during an emergency. But, by preparing your toddler at an early age, your toddler will likely be less anxious because he knows how to react.

You may have bought the best childproofing gadgets to keep your toddler safe and sound. But did you know there are some safety hazards you may have ignored that can cause serious harm to your toddler? Check out these safety hazards you might be unaware of.

Bed

The bed is a place of rest, comfort and security. However, what many do not know is that a bed can be a potential safety hazard for children. How? Certain objects, bedcovers and toys can cause suffocation. Also, your toddler might fall off the bed if he tends to move a lot in his sleep.

Safety Tip: To prevent accidents, avoid putting stuffed animals, bumpers and too many pillows in the bed. Instead, place pillows and a thick blanket on the floor around the bed as an emergency landing pad. Better yet, purchase toddler bed rails to keep your toddler from falling out of the bed. Regularly check the condition of the bed. See to it there are no chips, protruding corners, sharp objects, creaks and that it is still strong enough to support your toddler.

Dishwasher

It is common for toddlers to explore their home. One favorite household item toddlers consider a toy is a dishwasher. Little wanderers find joy in dishwashers because they have racks, buttons and sounds. Unfortunately, a dishwasher gives your toddler easy access to knives, forks and other sharp items. His tiny hands can get crushed and he can swallow dishwashing soap which can burn the esophagus.

Safety Tip: Point utensils downward in the utensil container. Use a dishwasher child lock to keep the dishwasher latched when it is not in use.

Bags

A purse, shoulder bag, backpack, suitcase and pouch can put your toddler’s safety at risk. Your little one can choke himself if he plays with bag straps or gains access to the contents of the bag (lipstick, pens, coins, medications, etc.) and hurt his hands with the zippers.

Safety Tip: Always store your bag in a place that is out of your toddler’s reach (e.g. in a locked cabinet or closet).

Power Windows

A lot of accidents and deaths have been reported involving children and car windows. A toddler can lose or squeeze his fingers or injure his head if he puts his hand or head out the window then accidentally leans on the switch, causing the window to close on him.

Safety Tip: Use the lock control so your child will not be able to operate power windows. Never leave your toddler alone inside the car.

Car Seats

By this time, your toddler probably knows how to operate a car seat and he may try unbuckling himself without your knowledge. This makes him prone to danger in case you suddenly step on the break or encounter a head-on collision.

Safety Tip: The number one reason why toddlers unbuckle themselves in their car seat is because they are bored. Make car rides more exciting by playing his favorite songs or bringing a toy to entertain him. You can also try sticking some Velcro underneath the buckle or turn the belt buckle around to make it more difficult for your toddler to unlatch himself.

Balloons

Children love balloons. They are colorful and they float in the air. But once your toddler inhales them or chokes on them, it can lead to death. Why? Balloons, especially latex balloons can conform to your toddler’s throat and totally block the airway making it difficult for your toddler to breath.

Safety Tip: Opt for Mylar balloons instead of traditional rubber balloons. They are safer, do not pop and are recyclable. Do not let your toddler play or blow latex balloons. If a balloon pops, immediately dispose all the pieces.

Safety hazards are everywhere. But, by keeping an alert eye and following certain precautionary measures, you can safeguard your precious one from danger.

Toddlers love exploring the world around them, but sadly, that world can hurt them. Luckily, there is one place where you can have total control over your toddler’s security – his bedroom. Here are some toddler safety tips to help you make sure your toddler’s room is as safe as possible.

Make An Assessment

How can you determine whether your toddler’s room is safe or unsafe? By getting down on the floor and examining things from your toddler’s height. What do you see that could pose a risk to your child’s safety? Are his toys out of reach? Are there tall furnitures that can collapse on him? Are electrical cords hidden or spread on the floor? Placing yourself in your toddler’s point of view is the best way to identify hazards.

Use A Bed

A crib can no longer provide security once a child reaches toddlerhood. Toddlers can climb out of cribs increasing the risk of a fall. If your toddler has a convertible crib, you may still use it as this can be converted into a toddler bed. If not, you need to buy your child a toddler bed. Choose one that is sturdy and has a simple design. Just spruce it up with colorful or cartoon-themed beddings. Buy side rails (if the bed does not have one) so you can keep your toddler from rolling off the bed at night.

Secure Furnitures

Your toddler’s room should be spacious so your little one can freely wander around. Keep furnitures to a minimum - a dresser, cabinet, bookcase, a small play table and one or two child-size chairs. Secure cabinets, shelves and the dresser to the wall using safety brackets to prevent your little one from climbing or dragging the furniture down on top of him. Place edge guards on the corners of the furnitures your toddler might ran into. Make sure there are no fragile items in his room (e.g. glass).

Secure Cords and Electrical Outlets

Electricity is dangerous for everyone, most especially to a toddler. Your toddler’s curious hands can get him into big trouble. To avoid that, cover electrical outlets with sliding safety plates which are hard to remove. For cords and wires, tie them up or use a cord shortener or wind-ups to keep your toddler from grabbing them or wrapping them around his neck which can cause strangulation.

Evaluate Doors and Windows

Your toddler’s bedroom door should have a knob that does not lock to prevent your toddler from locking himself in his room and getting trapped. Secure windows with window guards to place a barrier between your toddler and open windows. Use window stops to prevent your child from opening them. As much as possible do not install curtains. But if you insist on using them, opt for cordless blinds.

Arrange Things Systematically

Proper arrangement can minimize the risk of exposing your toddler to danger. Place the items your toddler regularly uses such as toys, books and art materials in a place where he can easily reach them. Place them on low shelves or in colorful, easy to open baskets and plastic containers.

A toddler’s room is considered as a safe haven for children. Following these preventative measures will help keep your toddler secure in his room and give you peace of mind.

The internet plays a huge role in a child’s life. The internet is a great tool, but it can also bring danger to children since young users are more vulnerable and are generally more at risk than adults. Thus, it is essential for parents to follow these tips about internet safety for kids.

Tweak Your Computer

Anti-virus and firewall software are a must for every computer so make sure you have them installed. Use the parental control settings on your browser (most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have one), filter search engines (Yahoo! Kids and KidsClick are child-friendly search engines) or choose a child-friendly home page (e.g. KidRocket.com, SurfKnight.com or Zoodles.com) in your browser settings to control your toddler’s access.

Educate Your Toddler

Bear in mind that these online protection tools and parental controls do not guarantee that your toddler will be completely safeguarded from the risks on the web so it is important that you educate your toddler about internet safety. Explain to him that while the internet is a good source of entertainment and education, there are inappropriate things happening in the web that are unsafe for children. Tell him that personal information (name, home address, phone number, password, etc.) must be kept private. Tell your toddler that if he sees anything disturbing, he should notify you right away.

Limit Internet Time

It might be tempting to leave your little one clicking away in front of the computer so you can finish your chores, but remember – the more time your toddler spends using the computer, the higher the risk he is exposed to dangerous things. Set a strict time limit for online play. 10 to 20 minutes of online play is the recommended time frame for toddlers. Provide your toddler with plenty of activities such as reading, drawing, DIY projects, sports and playing with other children at the playground so he has tons of fun things to do, minimizing internet time.

Be On The Lookout

Always keep a close eye on your toddler every time your little one is online. It is a good idea to place the computer in a public space such as your living room instead of putting it in your toddler’s bedroom so you can still check in often while doing laundry or preparing dinner. Doing so also helps you easily detect if your toddler is trying to hide something.

Surf The Web Together

It is important to be involved with your toddler’s internet life. Make time to surf child-friendly websites and play online games together. Talk about what he is doing on the web.

Make Sure To Log Out

Do not forget to sign out and close windows each time you are done using the computer. This will keep your toddler from gaining access and accidentally deleting your important files. It is a good idea to give your toddler his own log-in on your operating system so you can be sure everything he can access is good for him.

Taking an active role in your toddler’s internet activities will help make sure that your child benefits from the useful information the internet offers without exposing him to danger.