Security

Three low-cost, high-impact safety strategies for administering medication to newborns are:

Mandatory independent double-checking: Two professionals separately verify the calculation, drug, dosage, and route of administration for high-risk medications prior to administration.

Standardization of concentrations and labeling: A single concentration per drug within the unit, using clear labels and color-coding to distinguish dosages.

Priority strategies for ensuring safety in medication administration for newborns include:

A culture of safety and error reporting Standardized protocols and checklists; double-checking during preparation and administration

Supportive technology A protected environment during preparation A

ppropriate nurse-to-patient ratios, prioritization of complex cases, and assignment of highly experienced staff Involving the family as a partner in safety

Every child and every newborn have the right to safe, quality health care from day one.

A single safety incident can have lifelong consequences for a child’s health and development.

Join the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for a regional webinar to mark World Patient Safety Day 2025 under the slogan “Patient safety from the start!”.

When: 23 September 2025

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (EDT)