Toss That Syrup of Ipecac

If you have syrup of ipecac at home, some doctors now say to throw it away.

Doctors used to say that you should have the syrup in your home. If your child swallowed poison, a doctor might have told you to give your child the syrup. Drinking the syrup makes your child throw up. The syrup may hurt your child more than it helps.

The best way to help your child is to keep poisons out of reach. Some common poisons are medicine, cleaners, antifreeze, and bug sprays.

Here are ways to help keep your child safe:

• Keep poisons locked up.

• Always keep poison in the bottle or box that it came in.

• Get rid of any medicine that you no longer use.

• Keep this number for poison control near the phone:1-800-222-1222. 

Keystone Mercy has a Nurse Call Line that is there for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  If you have questions about certain symptoms and your doctore is not available, please call 1-866-931-1514. The nurse can help answer your questions. Please remembers that the Nurse Call Line does not take the place of your doctor.  Always follow-up with the doctor.