There is nothing more alarming than hearing your child scream from somewhere else in the house. You run to their side only to find an unlabeled bottle lying next to them and their face flushed. What do you do?

Accidental poisonings occur more often in the home than anywhere else. And most of the time, they involve small children. Putting things in their mouths is a child’s favorite thing to do. They won’t stop with toys or teething rings. If given the opportunity, they will do it with anything around the house.

Many substances in your home that are considered poisonous are expected to be out of reach of children. It says as much on the labels of the bottles. If anyone ingests it or breathes the fumes, it is expected to be an adult who had an accident while handling it.

If you suspect that your child has ingested a poisonous substance, look for the signs, which could be burns around the mouth, nose or on the hands (corrosive substances). Your child will scream as the chemical comes in contact with their skin.

Smell their breath. If it smells like a chemical in your home, they have probably swallowed it.

Hopefully you won’t find your child unconscious. If they have fallen down, check to see if they are breathing. Depending on what they ate, breathing could be labored; there could also be a fever or a rash that has erupted.

Take a deep breath and resist the urge to panic. Your child needs you every minute from this moment forward. Get on the telephone and call the Poison Control Center. Keep the number posted beside your telephone so that you can easily access it. It can also be found in the inside cover of the phone book where the numbers for police, fire and emergency are listed.

Give the person on the other end of the call as much information as you can about the incident. If you have the bottle, read what it says about the ingredients and also what do to in the event of an accident. They may be able to instruct you on how best to proceed.

Call emergency medical services. Your child will need medical attention. Make the call to 911 first if you find them unconscious.

Don’t make the child vomit. If a corrosive has been ingested, vomiting can introduce more acid back up into their throat and cause further burns.

Perform CPR. If your child is not breathing, begin chest compressions and rescue breathing until EMS arrives.