In 1961, Congress established National Poison Prevention Week to raise awareness, reduce unintentional poisoning and promote poison prevention. The week is an opportunity to highlight the dangers of poisonings for people of all ages and promote community involvement in poisoning prevention. Sixty-six percent of Poison Help Line calls can be assisted over the phone without have to go to the doctor or the hospital. Even health care providers who are seeking treatment advice for their patients consult the poison control experts. They account for approximately sixteen percent of the calls received. These professionals include your local EMS providers and emergency room physicians.

Every day of the year, 24 hours a day, the nation’s fifty-five poison control centers help with poisoning emergencies and provide information to help prevent poisoning. Specially trained poison experts – nurses, pharmacists, and doctors can be reached by calling the Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) which will connect you to your local poison control center. All calls are confidential and toll-free. There are interpreters available in over 160 languages. The staff provides immediate treatment management for all kinds of poison emergencies by obtaining history of the poisoning incident and assessing the potential toxicity. The Poison Control Center will follow up with the patient and their family to monitor the patient’s progress, as well as maintain medical records and data collection until the case is closed.

The most common forms of in-home poisonings include medications, household cleaning products, cosmetics, and personal care products. Most common causes of fatalities in the home include pharmaceuticals, alcohol, fumes, as well as gases and vapors such as carbon monoxide.

Poison Prevention Tips:

• Put household cleaning products up and away, out of the reach and sight of children
• Keep all household cleaning products in their original containers
• Check your purse for potential hazards – beware of medications or makeup in your purse
• Learn how to use household products safely – read and follow product labels
• Throw away all old or outdated products
• Install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms

Save the Poison Help Line number – 1-800-222-1222

References:

Poison Control Center
https://www.poisonhelp.hrsa.gov

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/

US Consumer Products Safety Commission
https://www.cpsc.gov

Safe Kids – Worldwide
https://www.safekids.org