A child that swallowed the wrong medicine or too much medicine may or may not look, act, or feel sick. The same goes for vitamins and other types of dietary supplements. You might not always see an empty bottle, but you start to notice your child acting differently. It’s important to remember that symptoms can vary widely depending on what was ingested.

You can do a quick 'head-to-toe' scan of your child to look for physical clues:

• Face: Check for pupils that appear larger than normal (dilated) or smaller than normal (pinpoint or constricted), unusual drooling, or rashes or blisters around the mouth.
• Breath: Take note of any strange smells on their breath or changes in their breathing pattern (like breathing faster than usual, working hard to breathe, or pauses in breathing).
• Stomach: Watch for nausea, sudden vomiting, or stomach pain without a fever.

You might also notice behavioral changes, such as:

• Energy Levels: Your child seems unusually sleepy, "dazed," or is difficult to wake up (but does eventually wake up).
• ‍Coordination: They are all of a sudden unsteady on their feet, or tripping more than usual, or bumping into things.‍
• Temperament: Unexplained irritability, hyperactivity, or unusual fussiness compared with their normal behavior.

When you call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, you will be connected to the poison center serving your local area and then speak directly to a registered nurse or pharmacist. These specialists are available to take your call 24/7. It's free to use and totally confidential.

If possible, bring the medicine or vitamin container to the phone. You will be asked to provide a quick summary of the situation, as well as to answer several questions that are necessary for the poison specialist to make an accurate assessment of the situation’s severity (ie. age, weight, name of the product). The poison specialist will then guide you through recommendations for treatment.

You can also call with general questions about poison and poison prevention, not just emergencies.

No question is too small. It's always okay to call.

Prefer not to call?

You can use the official webPOISONCONTROL online tool to get personalized treatment recommendations – in less than 3 minutes. The tool bases its recommendations on information you provide about the incident, such as the name of the substance, amount taken, and the age of the exposed person.

The tool’s recommendation/s could include:

• It is safe to stay home because toxicity is minimal.
  You will be given information on certain symptoms that are likely to occur and not of concern, and signs to look for that mean you should call Poison Control or go to the ER.
• Go to the Emergency Room.
• Call Poison Control for further guidance.

Both options (phone or online) give you fast, reliable direction—no matter the situation.