Young children sometimes swallow medicine, cleaning products, vitamins, or other household items. This is especially common when they start walking (and medications and solvents are not put away out of arms reach) or when at a home that is not theirs.

A new study, “Assessing unnecessary emergency department visits for poison exposures in pediatric patients less than six years old,” found that many suspected poisonings in children under age 6 may not require an emergency room visit.

• 38% clearly did not need ER care.

• 27% were unlikely to need ER care.

If your child may have been exposed to something harmful, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-122 Poison specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. The call is free.

They can help you decide whether your child can be safely watched at home or needs emergent medical care.

Of course, call 911 right away if your child has trouble breathing, has a seizure, collapses, or cannot be awakened.

A good tip: save 1-800-222-1222 in your phone now, before you need it.

I hope this helps.