Keep your child safe during Poison Prevention week

(WAND) - It's Poison Prevention week, and doctors are asking parents to keep a keen eye on their children and what they put in their mouths.

One, because it could be unsanitary and two, it could be extremely dangerous. Doctors say almost 90% of accidental ingestions occur at home.

"And it can be the most common things things we find in the house. Even things as simple at Tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofen, cleaning supplies, beauty products, and you know, batteries are another thing," explains HSHS Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Physician Thomas Rutherford.

Even over the counter medication could cause serious damage to your little one.

"Tylenol in itself can cause liver failure and result in death. And then aspirins or ibuprofen and those sorts of things can really affect the acid base balance in the body. And can also cause organ failure and death as well," says Rutherford.

Taking non-prescribed medication can put you in the hospital, which is why doctors urge taking preventive measures like keeping dangerous chemicals or medications as far away from your child as possible.

"Securing them with child locks. As we start to get into the warmer weather, really looking at, like the garages and the outdoor spaces where we keep some of these products as well, to make sure that children don't have access because all it takes is split seconds," says Rutherford.

If you suspect that your child has ingested any medication that isn't prescribed to them--seek medical attention immediately.