When the Unexpected Happens, Poison Centers are Here for You

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a proclamation to kick off National Poison Prevention Week, which takes place March 17-23.  The Poison Center at the University of Kansas Health System and Safe Kids Kansas want to remind Kansans that when the unexpected happens, Poison Help is here for you 24/7 with fast, free treatment advice by calling Poison Help (1-800-222-1222).

Whether it’s a question or an emergency, Poison Help can provide life-saving information when people need it most.  Calling a Poison Center is faster and more accurate than an internet search.  On average, 90 percent of poisonings happen in homes in America each year, and nearly 70 percent of people who call Poison Help get the help they need right where they are—saving the cost of a trip to a healthcare professional or hospital.

Not everyone realizes that Poison Centers are for everyone.  While poison centers get more calls about children, calls about teens, adults and older adults tend to be more serious.  Nearly 60 percent of calls to the Kansas Poison Center in 2023 involved medicines or pharmaceuticals.  However, other common poisons include household products, plants, mushrooms, pesticides, animal bites and stings, carbon monoxide, and many other types of nonpharmaceutical substances.

“The best piece of advice we can give is to program the Poison Help number, 1-800-222-1222, in your phone and post it visibly in your home,” said Stefanie Baines, Education Coordinator for the Kansas Poison Center.  “This way you are prepared in the event of a poisoning emergency or if you simply have questions.”

Here are the ways Poison Centers save time, worry, lives and money:

Time 
When seconds count, calling a poison center is faster and more accurate than a confusing internet search.

Worry
Nurses, pharmacists and doctors answer calls.  Poison Centers can help in more than 150 languages.  Doctors and hospitals turn to them for help every day.

Lives
Whether it is a question or an emergency, Poison Centers are there with life-saving information when you need it the most.

Money
All calls are free.  Nearly 70 percent of people who call get the help they need right where they are – saving the cost of a trip to the doctor or hospital.

“Curious kids can get into everything.  That’s why you can ask Poison Centers anything,” said Cherie Sage, State Coordinator for Safe Kids Kansas.  “When your child is curious, Poison Help is here for you 24/7.  No judgment – just fast, free, confidential and expert advice.”

If you think someone has been poisoned, call 800-222-1222 right away.  Fast and free expert help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.