Children ingesting prescription drugs becoming a nationwide problem

Children ingesting prescription drugs and chemicals from cleaning supplies is becoming a nationwide problem.

In 2011, Safe World Kids reported that half of the two million calls received were from exposures and ingestions from children five and under. The Yuma Fire Department said that in late December, they reported to a case involving a two-year-old child who landed in the hospital for ingesting prescription drugs.

Public Information Officer Mike Erfert with the Yuma Fire Department (YFD) said that kids ages two to six-years-old are at risk.

“These kids are always looking for something to do. They’re experimenting, they spend a lot of time tasting things, and the things they find it goes from their hand into their mouth,” said Erfert .

YFD encourages parents to take action and baby proof their homes storing all medication pills and cleaning chemicals out of reach.

At this moment, YFD could not provide a number of cases they have received in regards to this topic.