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What to do if…
your child may have swallowed a medicine or unknown substance but seems fine so far

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Call Poison Help now at 1-800-222-1222, even if your child seems fine. If your child collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be awakened, call 911 immediately.

Do not do these things

  • Do not wait to see whether symptoms appear.
  • Do not induce vomiting.
  • Do not try home remedies.
  • Do not force food, drink, or medicine unless Poison Help, Poison Control, or a clinician tells you to.
  • Do not spend time doing dose calculations before you call.
  • Do not rely on random online advice instead of Poison Help or an emergency clinician.

What to do now

  1. Check for immediate danger. If your child collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, is turning blue, or cannot be awakened, call 911 now.
  2. Stop any further exposure. Take the item away, gently remove anything visible from the mouth, and wipe the lips and face.
  3. If the substance is on the skin, remove contaminated clothing if you can do so easily and rinse the skin with running water. If it is in the eyes, rinse the eyes with running water.
  4. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 now. The call is free, confidential, and available 24/7 in the USA.
  5. Keep the container, packaging, label, pill fragments, or remaining substance near you during the call. Bring it with you if Poison Help or a clinician tells you to go for urgent care.
  6. Tell Poison Help what you know, even if it is incomplete: the product or medicine name, strength if visible, how much may be missing, when it may have happened, your child’s age, and your child’s approximate weight.
  7. Say early if the unknown item could be a button battery, magnet, opioid pain medicine, sedative, cannabis edible, nicotine product, cleaner, chemical, or more than one substance.
  8. If calling is difficult, use the official online poison help tool. If the tool tells you to call, if more than one product may be involved, if your child is younger than 6 months, or if you are unsure, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
  9. Watch your child while you follow the instructions. If new or worsening symptoms appear, especially trouble breathing, unusual sleepiness, repeated vomiting, severe confusion, severe agitation, seizures, or bluish lips or skin, call 911.

What can wait

  • You do not need to know the exact dose before calling.
  • You do not need to decide on the emergency room before calling, unless 911 symptoms are present.
  • You do not need to work out blame, discipline, or a full timeline right now.
  • You do not need to clean up the container or throw anything away before the call.

Important reassurance

A child can look well at first after a possible ingestion. Calling Poison Help early is the safest way to get calm, specific instructions and avoid unnecessary or harmful steps.

Scope note

These are first steps only. What happens next depends on what may have been swallowed, how much, your child’s age and size, symptoms, and the instructions from Poison Help or emergency clinicians.

Important note

This is general information, not medical diagnosis, treatment, or professional advice. For a possible child poisoning in the USA, contact Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, and call 911 for life-threatening symptoms.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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