Poison Centers

Poison centers help with poison emergencies and give information to prevent poisonings. You can talk to health care professionals like nurses, pharmacists, and doctors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling the free Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

According to the 40th Annual Report of America's Poison Centers National Poison Data System, two-thirds of callers get the help they need over the phone and don’t need to see a doctor or hospital. Even health care professionals get help from poison centers; they make up 24% of all calls.

Poison centers offer:

  • Free help over the phone with poison emergencies
  • Advice for health care professionals and the public
  • Poison prevention facts and care
  • National Poison Prevention Week information
  • Data for public health
  • Help in 161 languages across the United States and many U.S. territories

Poison centers are locally managed. Private, state, and federal sources fund poison centers.1 Hospitals and colleges also help fund poison centers.

Poison center history1

The idea for a poison center came from a part-time secretary from the American Academy of Pediatrics during the early 1950s. She called hospitals in Chicago to find out why children were in the emergency room with certain problems. What had they eaten? What did they drink?

At the time, companies did not have to tell people much about the ingredients in their products. The secretary asked companies what ingredients in their products might be making children sick. She then asked a group of medical professionals to set treatment guidelines. When doctors had questions, they would call her, and she would read medical advice to them off note cards.

Soon after, the U.S. Surgeon General ordered copies of her 1,000 index cards to be sent to health departments across the country. From this, the first poison center was founded, and the idea spread throughout the nation.

1 American Association of Poison Control Centers

2 National Poison Prevention Week Council

3 5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

An older woman taking Rx medication and a man working with cleaning supplies. At home, at work, and wherever you are, poison help is here for you.
A map of the United States and territories and photos of Poison Help call representatives. Expert guidance available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 100 languages.

Find a Poison Center

 

Timeline

1953: The first U.S. poison center opens.1

1958: The American Association of Poison Control Centers is founded.2

1961: Congress creates National Poison Prevention Week.3

2002: The start of the Poison Help line: 1-800-222-1222. When you call the Poison Help line, you will talk with your local poison center.