Most of us look at child proofing like we look at an IRS audit: we hope we never have to go through it. If we do, we hope it it only happens once. Have you ever looked around your once child proofed house and noticed the many hazards that have piled up like your laundry. As we do a safety tune-up (yes, even the Paranoid Sisters need safety tune-ups) we take you with us. This month we focus on the bathroom medicine cabinet.

The Medicine Cabinet
Wow! Was I surprised at what I found in not only my medicine cabinet but my children's also. Is your medicine cabinet like your refrigerator? If the item can be identified you wonder where it came from? Take a look at the date on all the medications. If they are expired then flush them down the toilet - don't throw medications in the garbage. My bottle of Ipecac Syrup had expired 2/98.

If you don't know, Ipecac Syrup can be given -- on the advice of a physician or health care professional -- in the case of poisoning.

Are you ready for the small emergencies of life? We go through Band Aids like candy (by the way never refer to medicine as candy). Do you keep Apple Sauce, clear soda (like Seven-Up or Sprite) handy? You don't want to be stuck dragging a sick kid to the store.

Let us know your funny stories about life's little emergencies for inclusion in future newsletters.