A Dothan man was charged Tuesday with leaving two young children home alone with narcotics in their reach.
The Dothan Police Department (DPD) responded to a call on the 200 block of Westmont Drive where one child was reported to have consumed over-the-counter medication. Officers found that both children had access to narcotics within their reach.
According to police, 65-year-old Terry Lee Sims, the children’s guardian, admitted to having knowledge of the narcotics when he returned from running an errand.
Sims was arrested and charged with two counts of Chemical Endangerment of a Child.
Both children were given a medical exam and released.
DPD said this is an ongoing investigation with additional charges possible.
Sims’s bond was set at $5,000.
According to Familydoctor.com, more than 60,000 young children go to the emergency room every year after getting into medicine that belongs to their parents.
Parents and guardians should store medicine out of reach of children, teach children about medicine safety and make sure medication container caps are locked.
If your child has ingested or is exposed to a harmful substance, please call the Alabama Poison Information Center at 1-800-222-1222.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email will.blakely@1819news.com.
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