Answer:
Safety!
Step-by-step explanation:
Being able to read the medication label at home is essential in keeping the patient safe. Medication labels give you the patient's name (if the medication is prescribed), the name of the medication, the route the medication is to be administered, the dose contained within the medication and its corresponding strength, and the frequency at which the medication can be taken. Medication labels may also indicate the purpose of the medication.
All of this is to keep the patient safe. Taking the wrong medications at the wrong time, at the wrong dose, and at the wrong frequency can, at minimum, cause discomfort and inconvenience and, at worse, can cause serious side effects, adverse events or reactions, medical emergencies, and even death.
An example would be routine Tylenol (acetaminophen). This medication label may tell the patient to take 325 milligrams orally (by mouth) every 6 hours for mild to moderate pain. It may also contain a warning that the patient should not consume more than 3000 milligrams (or 3 grams) of acetaminophen within a 24-hour period, nor should they take this medication for more than 10 days unless directed by a healthcare provider. Taking more than this amount can cause a rash, or it can cause something known as toxic epidermal necrolysis which can be life-threatening.
The biggest reason being able to read the medication label is important because the information contained on the label is there to keep the patient safe! Safety is the utmost priority.