A parent reports a 16-month-old drank 2 ounces of acetaminophen. What action should the nurse recommend?

• A. Administer oral syrup of ipecac.
• B. Obtain oral activated charcoal tablets from the pharmacy.
• C. Transport to emergency center for gastric decontamination.
• D. Give the child a glass of whole milk.

Answer: (C)

When a toddler starts with an ingestion of acetaminophen, the priority is to limit absorption and obtain timely medical evaluation. A 16‑month‑old who has ingested a potentially toxic amount requires urgent assessment at an emergency center so they can determine the need for gastric decontamination and follow-up care, including liver function monitoring and possible antidote therapy.

Inducing vomiting with ipecac is not used anymore because it risks aspiration and doesn’t reliably reduce toxin load. Administering activated charcoal is considered if the ingestion is recent, but this is a procedure done in a medical setting with appropriate dosing and airway protection—not something to obtain from a pharmacy in tablet form for home use. Giving milk won’t treat the overdose and isn’t beneficial. Thus, transporting to the emergency department for proper evaluation and decontamination is the correct course.