Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of your child after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
Your child was seen in the ED for an "accidental overdose." This means they took too much of a medicine without meaning to. Some medicines cause only minor problems if a child takes too much. Others can cause serious problems.
The doctors think it is safe for your child to recover at home. Sometimes, symptoms of serious problems do not show up right away and instead happen days or even weeks later. Because of this, the doctor might have told you to have someone stay with your child for some time to watch them. It is also important to follow up with your child's regular doctor.
You might be waiting on your child's test results. The staff will notify you if there are concerning results.
How do I care for my child at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for your child. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also:
●Call your child's regular doctor and tell them your child was in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment.
●Be an active member of your child's health care team. Ask their doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions you have about their medicines. Write down what they say so you can remember it later.
●Make sure you know why your child takes each medicine and how it helps them.
●Know the generic and brand names of all your child's medicines.
●Learn what each medicine looks like. If your child's medicine looks different when you get a refill, ask the pharmacist if you have the right one.
●Store medicines in a safe place after each use. Make sure children and pets cannot get to them.
●Give your child only medicines prescribed for them. Do not share medicines with other people.
●Always give your child their medicines exactly as instructed. Some tips to help:
•Read the prescription label on the medicine container carefully. Also read the patient information that comes in the package.
•For medicines your child takes daily, give them at the same time every day.
•Create a routine for giving your child their medicines. This helps you remember to give them. Make this part of your normal daily activities.
•Use a daily or weekly pill box or blister pack to organize your child's medicines. These make it easier to know what medicines to give when.
•Create reminders so you don't forget to give your child their medicine. You can do this using a calendar, smartphone app, or digital watch.
•Do not skip doses, change doses, or give your child extra medicine unless their doctor tells you to.
•Turn on the lights when you give the medicines. This helps make sure you are alert and are giving the correct medicine at the correct dose.
When should I get emergency help?
●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:
•Your child has severe trouble breathing, has slow or shallow breathing, or stops breathing.
•Your child gets very confused or has trouble speaking.
•You cannot wake your child up.
•Your child has a seizure.
•Your child has bad chest or belly pain.
•Your child vomits blood, or has a large amount of blood (more than 1 teaspoon, or 5 mL) in their bowel movements or urine.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if your child:
●Has nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
●Feels very weak or tired
●Has new or worsening symptoms
Patient education: Medication safety (The Basics)
Patient education: Why taking your medicine as prescribed is important (The Basics)
Patient education: Acetaminophen poisoning (The Basics)
Patient education: Acetaminophen dosing in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Ibuprofen dosing in children (The Basics)
