Accidental ingestion: The Alex

Download and print as a PDF (451kB pdf)

Accidental ingestion

Your child has accidentally ingested (eaten or swallowed) the following. (Record it here).

Most children with accidental ingestions do not come to harm as a result and treatment is not usually required.
After observing your child in the emergency department and reviewing the information on the national ToxBase poisons information database, we are happy that your child does not need any further treatment or observation and can be discharged home.

What should I do at home?

Once you get home you should keep a close eye for the following symptoms. (Record the symptoms here).

If you notice any of these, or any of the red flag features below, come back to hospital as soon as possible, as your child may need some further observation or treatment.

Red flag symptoms

Please bring them back to the emergency department as soon as possible.

Safety tips for medication and household chemicals

Medication general tips and storage

Child safety caps aren’t completely child proof. Although they slow children down, they won’t always stop your child from getting into the bottle.

Keep all medication out of children’s reach and sight, preferably in a locked cabinet.

keep them high up and hidden if stored in a fridge.

Don’t keep medications on your bedside table or in your bag – this is a favourite place for toddlers to find tablets.

Keep all medicines in their original containers, and take extra care with see-through packets or brightly coloured tablets, as these can look like sweets and are especially tempting to children. Never pretend medications are sweets.

Take any old or left over medication to your local chemist for them to throw away safely.

Storing household chemicals and products

Keep laundry, cleaning products, and other chemicals such as paint, white spirit and weed killers on a high shelf out of reach of children or in a cupboard with child resistant catches.

Never keep them under the sink, on the floor or by the toilet.

Try to buy cleaning products with child-resistant caps that contain Bitrex, a product that is added to cleaning agents that produces a bitter taste if ingested.

Remember to always dispose of empty containers safely and out of your child’s reach.

Remember that cigarettes, alcohol, perfume, aromatherapy oils and mouthwash can all be poisonous to children. Remember to keep these dangerous items out of their sight.

Useful resources

Child Accident Prevention Trust

ROSPA

Please be aware that CED staff will not be able to give you medical advice for your child over the phone but can direct you to an appropriate service to assist with your enquiry.