One of the common misconceptions surrounding poison centers is that they are aimed primarily at children who've gotten into something they shouldn't have.

While poison centers do take such calls, they also take plenty of calls from people who've made mistakes when taking their medicine.

In 2008, 10.6 percent of all poison exposures occurred as a result of "therapeutic errors," including taking the wrong medicine or inadvertently taking doses too close together.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers offers the following tips aimed at taking medicine safely:

• Never take medicine that isn't intended for you, and never give a person medicine not intended for them. Do not use another person's prescription, even if it is similar to one you may be taking.

• Do not give a child medicine or vitamins intended for adults.

• Never use a household spoon to measure liquids because the volume in such a spoon could vary widely and the dose would not be accurate.

• Make sure after refilling a prescription that the pills look the same as the previous month, and that there is a child-resistant closure on the bottle. If the directions are not clear or appear to have changed, ask the pharmacist or your doctor as soon as you notice it. If possible side effects occur when taking medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist to check and see if you should stop the drug.

• Some drugs include warnings that they should not be taken with certain drugs, supplements, foods or alcohol. Be sure you know if this applies to your medicines.

• Never take medicine in the dark, and use glasses or a magnifier to read the label if necessary before taking each dose. Some poison exposures occur when people accidentally take medicine intended for their pets, or used ear drops in their eyes, or inhaled a spray product intended for the nose.

• Store all medicines out of the sight of teens and others who might try to take them out of curiosity or for abuse purposes. If there are strong painkillers or other potent drugs in the home, consider locking them up separately from other medicines.

• Maintain an up-to-date list of all medicines for each family member, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as supplements. Show the list to your doctor at clinic visits, and verify each time you go to the pharmacy for refills or buy a new medicine. Be sure you have any allergies listed as well. Having this information when you travel is also very important.

• When using medicine administered by a "patch," take off one patch before applying the next one. In the case of topical products, wash off the skin before applying more.

• Don't flush old medicines down the toilet. Instead, hold them for a local medication disposal event, or mix them with an inedible substance like coffee grounds or kitty litter, then dispose of them in a sealed bag or other container in the trash. Call your local pharmacy to see if they have tips on proper disposal as well.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers supports the nation's 60 poison control centers in their efforts to help Americans use their medicine safely. Poison centers offer free and confidential services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are worried or have a question about how to take medicine safely, call your local poison center at 1-800-222-1222.