Medication safety involves the safe prescribing, dispensing, storage, and use of medicines to prevent harm. Children are at increased risk of medication-related errors because dosing is based on weight and age, and they are unable to recognize unsafe medication use. Unintentional medication overdoses are a leading cause of emergency department visits among young children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024; World Health Organization [WHO], 2025).
Medication Safety in Children
Overview
Common Risks
Common medication risks in children include giving the wrong dose, administering the wrong medicine, accidental ingestion, using expired or improperly stored medicines, and confusing medicines with similar names or appearances (CDC, 2024; HealthyChildren.org, 2025).
Safety Practices
Children should be taught not to take medications without adult permission, never to share medicines, and not to think of medicines as sweets. Parents and caregivers should carefully read labels, use appropriate measuring devices such as oral syringes, doublecheck the child’s name and dose, store medicines in locked cabinets out of sight and reach, keep medicines in original containers, and check expiry dates before use (CDC, 2024; WHO, 2025).
Warning Signs and Action
Signs of medication harm may include unusual sleepiness, vomiting, rash, swelling, breathing difficulty, or sudden behavioral changes. If a child receives the wrong medicine or incorrect dose, caregivers should seek immediate medical attention and take the medicine container to the nearest health facility without waiting for symptoms to appear (CDC, 2024).
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Medication safety and the PROTECT initiative. https://www.cdc.gov/medication-safety/protect
- HealthyChildren.org. (2025). Medication safety tips for families. https://www.healthychildren.org
- World Health Organization. (2025). Enhancing medication safety in children. https://cdn.who.int
