Hello parents and teachers,
Did you know that over 20,000 kids per year need medical help due to medicine mistakes or misues?
Over-The-Counter Medicine Safety
What Is the OTC Medicine Safety Program?
- A free, evidence-based, comprehensive Common Core-ready educational program on the safe use of over-the-coun ter (OTC) medicines, with a rich online hub atscholastic.com/otcmedsafety
- Lesson plans, teacher/facilitator guides, student worksheets, activities, posters, assessment tools, family resources, and videos target 5th- and 6th-grade classroom, health, and physical education teachers; school nurses; and community leaders and coalitions
OTC Medicine Safety Program Effectiveness
- Evidence -based program tested with more than 1,000 students
- Modeled after FDA's Medicines in My Home program
- Tested with teachers, students, and leading organizations in pediatrics and education
Why Do We Need OTC Medicine Safety?
- Research shows thatstudents begin to self-medicate arow1d age 11. If not equipped with the knowledge and training to make safe choices, mistakes can happenl
- Byage 16, approximately 90% of adolesce nts report self-administering OTC medications. Over 20,000 kids per year need medical help due to medicine mistakes or misuse.'
OTC Medicine Safety's Learning Outcomes
- Identify the differences between prescription (Rx) and OTC medicines .
- Understand the importance of the Drug Facts label and be able to identify its different sections. Understand safe storage locations for OTC medicines.
- Understand that using OTC medicines irresponsibly can cause harm.
- Recognize wisafe situations involving OTC medicines and brainstorm solutions using problem-solving skills.
- Identify the Poison Help number (1-800-222-1222)and understand that this free resource is available to support safe medicine use.
We also provide a peer to peer prevention education program, by training high school students to facilitate to 5th or 6th grade classes.
- Week #1: RX vs OTC
- Week #2: Drug Fact Labels
- Week #3: Responsible Dosses & Proper Storage
- Week #4: Dangers of Misusing Medicine
