Grade by Grade
D. Healthy Living · Healthy Living

Medicine Safety and Other Ways to Stay Healthy

D1.3 D3.2 A1.2 A1.6About 35 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can explain the difference between prescription and non-prescription medicines and give examples.
  • I can follow the rules for using medicine safely.
  • I can name ways to stay healthy or feel better that are used instead of medicine, or along with it.

Words to know

medicine
Something that helps the body heal or feel better, or keeps it from getting sick. It can be a pill, liquid, cream, spray or puffer.
prescription medicine
Medicine that a doctor or nurse practitioner orders for one person. A pharmacist gives it out with a label that has that person's name.
non-prescription medicine
Medicine an adult can buy at a pharmacy or store without a doctor's order, like some cough syrups and fever medicine.
pharmacist
A health care helper who knows a lot about medicines and gives out prescription medicine at a pharmacy.
dose
How much medicine to take, and how often.
label
The sticker or writing on a medicine package that tells who it is for, how much to take and when.

Medicine helps, but only when it's used safely

When you have a fever or an earache, a grown-up might give you medicine. Medicine can help us heal and feel better. But medicine can also hurt us if it is used the wrong way.

In Grade 1 you learned that medicine is not candy and that you only take it from a trusted grown-up. Today you will learn about two kinds of medicine and other ways to stay healthy.

Prescription medicine 📋Non-prescription medicine 🏪
Who decides?A doctor or nurse practitioner orders it for one person.An adult can buy it without a doctor's order.
Where do you get it?From a pharmacist at a pharmacy.At a pharmacy or a store.
The label says...The person's name, the medicine, the dose and when to take it.What it is for, the dose for each age, and warnings.
Examplesmedicine for an infection (an antibiotic), a puffer (inhaler) for asthmasome cough syrups, medicine for a fever or pain, allergy medicine for a runny nose
Two kinds of medicine
PRETEND PHARMACY LABELFor: LeilaPuffer (inhaler) for asthmaDose:When:Ordered by: Dr.the person's namethe medicinehow much (the dose)when to take itwho ordered it
A prescription label shows who the medicine is for, what it is, the dose, when to take it and who ordered it. Only Leila should use this puffer.

Medicine safety rules

  1. Only take medicine from a trusted adult who is in charge of you, like a parent, caregiver or the school office with your parent's permission.
  2. Follow the label or the doctor's directions. The right dose matters. More is not better.
  3. Never share medicine, and never take someone else's prescription medicine. It was made for them.
  4. Medicine is not candy, even when it tastes sweet. Vitamins count too!
  5. If you find pills or medicine, don't touch them. Tell an adult.
  6. Medicine should be stored up high or locked away, where little children can't reach it.

Other ways to stay healthy and feel better

Medicine isn't the only way to take care of our bodies and minds. Many things can be used instead of medicine, or together with it, to help us stay healthy, prevent illness, or feel better:

  • Rest and sleep help your body heal.
  • Drinking water helps when you have a cold or are hot.
  • Eating healthy food gives your body what it needs to fight germs.
  • Washing your hands stops germs from spreading.
  • Being active and getting fresh air helps your body and your mood.
  • An ice pack helps a bump or bruise.
  • Deep breathing, quiet time or talking to someone helps when you feel worried or upset.
  • A hug, a story or a cozy blanket can comfort you when you feel unwell.
zrest andsleepdrinkwatereat healthyfoodwash yourhandsplay outsidein fresh airan ice packfor a bumpdeepbreathinga hug, a story,a cozy blanket
Lots of things help us stay healthy and feel better, instead of medicine or together with it.
Worked example

Let's sort the medicines

Look at these: (1) a puffer with Leila's name on the label from the pharmacy, (2) a bottle of children's cough syrup bought at the store, (3) a bottle of pills from the pharmacy labelled for Grandpa. Which are prescription medicines?

  1. A prescription label has a person's name, because a doctor ordered it for that one person.
  2. (1) Leila's puffer has her name: prescription.
  3. (2) The cough syrup was bought without a doctor's order: non-prescription.
  4. (3) Grandpa's pills have his name: prescription. Only Grandpa should take them.

(1) and (3) are prescription medicines. (2) is non-prescription. All of them should only be given by an adult.

Worked example

Let's find other ways to feel better

Rowan has a cold. His nose is runny and he feels tired. What can help him feel better, along with any medicine his grown-up decides to give?

  1. Rest: he can rest and go to bed early.
  2. Water: he can drink water to stay hydrated.
  3. Healthy food: warm soup and fruit give his body energy.
  4. Stop germs: he can wash his hands and cough into his sleeve so others don't get sick.

Rest, water, healthy food and handwashing all help Rowan get better. His grown-up decides if he needs medicine.

Just for fun

While you sleep, your body is busy fixing and growing. You are like a construction site... in pyjamas!

Hands-on activity

Medicine safety check and a feel-better kit

You need: a grown-up, paper and a shoebox.

  1. Label look: With your grown-up, look at one prescription label and one non-prescription box (don't open them). Find the name, the dose and the warnings.
  2. Safety check: Are medicines and vitamins stored up high or locked? Help your grown-up check.
  3. Feel-better kit: In a shoebox, put things that help you feel better without medicine: a favourite book, a soft blanket, a water bottle, a card with "Take 3 deep breaths", and a picture of a trusted person.
  4. Draw a poster: "Medicine is not candy!"

Your turn

1

Who orders a prescription medicine?

2

Give one example of a non-prescription medicine.

3

Who should give you medicine?

4

Your friend offers you one of his allergy pills. What do you do?

5

You find a pill on the floor. What do you do?

6

Name two ways to feel better that are not medicine.

7

Is medicine candy, even if it tastes sweet?

More practice: warm-up

1

Does a prescription label have a person's name on it?

2

Is taking more medicine than the label says a good idea?

3

Where do you get a prescription medicine?

4

Does sleep help your body heal?

5

Should medicine be kept where little kids can reach it?

More practice: on your own

1

Why should you never take someone else's prescription medicine?

2

Your little brother thinks the gummy vitamins are candy. What could you say and do?

3

Maya feels worried before her swim test. Name two things besides medicine that could help.

4

Jonah bumped his knee and it hurts a little. What could help besides medicine?

5

Sort into prescription or non-prescription: (a) Mom's medicine from the pharmacist with her name on it, (b) a box of cough drops from the grocery store.

Challenge

1

Give two reasons a medicine label is important.

2

Name one way to prevent getting sick so you might not need medicine at all.

3

A grown-up at a friend's house who is not in charge of you offers you medicine for a headache. What do you do? Why?

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Who orders a prescription medicine?

2.

Which is usually a non-prescription medicine?

3.

Who should give you medicine?

4.

Your friend has a puffer. You have a cough. What should you do?

5.

Which can help you feel better without medicine?

6.

Why is medicine kept up high or locked away?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: This lesson covers two Grade 2 expectations: describe the difference between prescription medicines and non-prescription medicines, giving examples of each, and identify rules for the proper use of all medicines (D1.3), and describe methods that may be used instead of or in combination with medication to maintain good physical and mental health and to prevent or treat various health problems (D3.2).

How to help at home:

  • Store all medicines and vitamins up high or locked, and put them away right after use.
  • Read the label aloud when you give medicine: "This is for you. The label says one dose."
  • Never call medicine or vitamins "candy", even to help a child take them.
  • When your child feels unwell, talk about everything that helps: rest, fluids, food, comfort, and medicine if needed.
  • If a child swallows medicine that wasn't meant for them, call the Ontario Poison Centre or, in an emergency, 911.

Be sensitive: Some children take daily medicine (for asthma, ADHD, diabetes and more). Make sure your child understands that medicine prescribed by a doctor is a healthy, helpful choice for that person.

Common difficulties: thinking "more medicine works faster"; thinking a store-bought medicine is always safe; not knowing that vitamins should be stored safely too.

This lesson also builds coping skills (A1.2) and critical thinking (A1.6).