CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – As the number of adults who use cannabis products increases, so does the probability of a young child accidentally ingesting cannabis.

Dr. Michael Beuhler with North Carolina Poison Control says the number of children under the age of 12 exposed to products containing cannabis — like gummies and edibles — have doubled in the past few years.

That exposure could lead to a serious health emergency.

“It is possible for a child to die if the dose of cannabis is large enough, Dr. Beuhler said. ”I know that a lot of people are going to say, ‘That’s not true,’ and they’re going to say that ‘you can’t die of an overdose.’”

Dr. Beuhler, who is also a physician, says his center has spoken with hundreds of frantic parents in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. They’ve walked parents through what to do for their child suffering from cannabis poisoning.

“Children seem to react a little differently to cannabis than adults do,” Beuhler said. “So, adults can potentially say it’s very unlikely for that to happen. But in children, if they don’t get care and they get really sick, I think they are at risk for potentially dying.”

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For parents who have cannabis in the home, Beuhler encourages them to treat cannabis like “any other medication.”

“You wouldn’t allow a blood pressure medication to be left out and or accessible to a child,” Dr. Beuhler said.

WBTV called several pediatricians, hospitals and treatment centers to ask them about the number of children they’ve treated. WBTV also asked about how many families the medical facilities have consulted with after young children accidentally ingested cannabis.

Each of the facilities said they‘ve treated dozens of children for accidentally ingesting cannabis. But, because of the stigma attached to cannabis use, health experts fear there are hundreds more children have experienced cannabis poisoning whose parents haven’t called.

That fear of being judged can cost a child their life, doctors say.

Here are the signs of cannabis poisoning, according to doctors:

• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Unresponsiveness
• Slurred speech
• Wobbly, not steady on the feet
• Drowsy or lethargic
• Slowed breathing
• In rare cases, seizures

Parents are urged to get their child help immediately if they see that something is wrong.

“Depending upon the dose and the calculation based on how much they got, they’ll either be able to stay at home, or we’re going to be sending them into the hospital for observation,” Dr. Beuhler said.

Doctors say some cannabis poisoning can happen outside the home, too.

If your child spends time at homes of relatives or friends, have an open conversation. Ask them if they use cannabis — and if they do, ask them to make sure it’s stored away properly.

If a child is exposed to a cannabis product, you can get immediate and confidential help by calling North Carolina Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

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