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DESCRIPTIONThere are literally thousands of substances, both natural and synthetic, that can cause poisoning. Many of these are present in everyday items and products, including drugs, cleaning products, pesticides, paints and varnishes, hobby and art supplies, batteries, cosmetics, and house plants. Some are poisonous only if ingested; others can cause problems if inhaled or absorbed through the skin or eyes.
Most cases of accidental poisoning involve young children, especially children under the age of five. Young children are very curious, and their preferred method of exploring often involves putting things into their mouths. However, there are also many cases of poisoning every year among elderly people and hospital patients (most commonly the result of over-medication or drug mix-ups), as well as adolescents, who may experiment with the ingestion of toxic substances, including recreational drugs. Other causes of poisoning include exposure to environmental pollutants and toxic substances used in the workplace. Toxins in food can also cause poisoning.
RECOMMENDATIONS
If you suspect that you or another person have been poisoned, call your local Poison Control Center and follow their directions. The appropriate measures to take depend on the toxin involved and the method of ingestion. The professionals who staff these centers will be able to tell you what to do.
Keep the telephone number of your local Poison Control Center posted near your telephone (see below for updated list). This is particularly important if you have children. Also, keep a bottle of syrup of ipecac on hand at all times. This can be purchased at any local pharmacy or drug store. However, do NOT use the syrup of ipecac unless specifically directed to do so by a health care provider or your Poison Control Center. Syrup of ipecac will cause the vomiting when taken and some poisonous substances should not treated in this manner. So, again, be sure to check with Poison Control before administering any first aid measures.
If you are directed to go to the nearest hospital emergency room, take the container of the suspected poison with you, if possible. This can help medical personnel to deal with the situation and save precious time.
CONSIDERATIONS
When dealing with suspected poisoning, it is better to rely on the advice of Poison Control Center staff rather than the information on product packaging. Poison Control Centers keep up to date with the latest knowledge and practices. Information provided by manufacturers may not be as current or reliable.
See these pages for more information:
Aluminum Toxicity
Arsenic Poisoning
Cadmium Toxicity
Chemical Poisoning
Copper Toxicity
Environmental Toxicity
Food Poisoning
Lead Toxicity (Lead Poisoning)
Mercury Toxicity
Nickel Toxicity
POISON CONTROL CENTERS
The following are telephone numbers for local Poison Control Centers in the United States. It is a good idea to post the number of your local center near your telephone, especially if you have young children. If you can program your telephone for automatic dialing, you may wish to add the number to your phone's programming as well. Please note that all phone numbers are subject to change.
September 2003 - Poison Center List
American Association of Poison Control Centers
U.S. Poison Control Center Members
Updated September 2003
ALABAMA
Alabama Poison Center
2503 Phoenix Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
Regional Poison Control Center
Children's Hospital
1600 7th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
ALASKA
Oregon Poison Center
Oregon Health Sciences University
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, CB550
Portland, OR 97201
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
ARIZONA
Arizona Poison & Drug Info Center
Arizona Health Sciences Center, Room 1156
1501 North Campbell Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85724
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
Banner Poison Control Center
Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center
1111 E. McDowell
Phoenix, AZ 85006
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222ARKANSAS
Arkansas Poison & Drug Information Center
College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4301 W. Markham, Mail Slot 522-2
Little Rock, AR 72205
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 641-3805CALIFORNIA
California Poison Control System - Fresno/Madera Division
Children's Hospital Central California
9300 Valley Children's Place, MB 15
Madera, CA 93638-8762
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 972-3323
California Poison Control System - Sacramento Division
UC Davis Medical Center
2315 Stockton Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95817
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 972-3323
California Poison Control System - San Francisco Division
UCSF Box 1369
San Francisco, CA 94143-1369
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 972-3323
California Poison Control System - San Diego Division
University of California, San Diego, Medical Center
200 West Arbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92103-8925
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 972-3323COLORADO
Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center
1001 Yosemite Street, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80230-6800
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (303) 739-1127CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Poison Control Center
University of Connecticut Health Center
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-5365
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222DELAWARE
The Poison Control Center
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
34th & Civic Center Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4303
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (215) 590-8789DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
National Capital Poison Center
3201 New Mexico Avenue, NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20016
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 222-1222FLORIDA
Florida Poison Information Center - Jacksonville
655 West Eighth Street
Jacksonville, FL 32209
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 222-1222; (800) 282-3171 (FL only)
Florida Poison Information Center - Miami
University of Miami, Dept of Pediatrics
P.O. Box 016960 (R-131)
Miami, FL 33101
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
Florida Poison Information Center - Tampa
Tampa General Hospital
P.O. Box 1289
Tampa, FL 33601
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222GEORGIA
Georgia Poison Center
Hughes Spalding Children's Hospital
Grady Health System
80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, SE, P.O. Box 26066
Atlanta, GA 30335-3801
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (404) 616-9287 (TDD)HAWAII
Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center
1001 Yosemite Street, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80230-6800
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (303) 739-1127IDAHO
Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center
1001 Yosemite Street, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80230-6800
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (303) 739-1127INDIANA
Indiana Poison Center
Methodist Hospital
Clarian Health Partners
I-65 at 21st Street
Indianapolis, IN 46206-1367
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (317) 962-2336 (TTY)ILLINOIS
Illinois Poison Center
222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60606
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (312) 906-6185IOWA
Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center
St. Luke's Regional Medical Center
2910 Hamilton Boulevard Lower A
Sioux City, IA 51104
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222KANSAS
Mid-America Poison Control Center
University of Kansas Medical Center
3901 Rainbow Blvd., Room B-400
Kansas City, KS 66160-7231
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (913) 588-6639 (TDD)KENTUCKY
Kentucky Regional Poison Center
Medical Towers South, Suite 847
234 East Gray Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222LOUISIANA
Louisiana Drug and Poison Information Center
University of Louisiana at Monroe
College of Pharmacy, Sugar Hall
Monroe, LA 71209-6430
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
MAINENorthern New England Poison Center
22 Bramhall St
Portland, ME 04102
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (877) 299-4447 (ME only) (207) 871-2879MARYLAND
Maryland Poison Center
University of MD at Baltimore
School of Pharmacy
20 North Pine Street, PH 772
Baltimore, MD 21201
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (410) 706-1858 (TDD)
National Capital Poison Center
3201 New Mexico Avenue, NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20016
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 222-1222MASSACHUSETTS
Regional Center for Poison Control and Prevention Serving Massachusetts and Rhode Island
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (888) 244-5313MICHIGAN
Children's Hospital of Michigan Regional Poison Control Center
4160 John R Harper Professional Office Bldg, Suite 616
Detroit, MI 48201
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 356-3232 (TDD)
DeVos Children's Hospital Regional Poison Center
1300 Michigan, NE, Suite 203
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 222-1222MINNESOTA
Hennepin Regional Poison Center
Hennepin County Medical Center
701 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 222-1222 (612) 904-4691 (TTY)MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi Regional Poison Control Center
University of Mississippi Medical Center
2500 N. State Street
Jackson, MS 39216
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222MISSOURI
Missouri Regional Poison Center
7980 Clayton Rd, Suite 200
St. Louis, MO 63117
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (314) 612-5705MONTANA
Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center
1001 Yosemite Street, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80230-6800
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (303) 739-1127NEBRASKA
The Poison Center
Children's Hospital
8200 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68114
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222NEVADA
Oregon Poison Center
Oregon Health Sciences University
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, CB550
Portland, OR 97201
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center
1001 Yosemite Street, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80230-6800
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (303) 739-1127NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire Poison Information Center
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
One Medical Center Drive
Lebanon, NH 03756
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222NEW JERSEY
New Jersey Poison Information and Education System
located at University of Medicine and Dentistry at New Jersey
65 Bergen Street
Newark, NJ 07107-3001
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (973) 926-8008NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Poison & Drug Info Center
Health Science Center Library, Room 130
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-1076
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222NEW YORK
Central New York Poison Center
750 East Adams Street
Syracuse, NY 13210
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
Finger Lakes Regional Poison & Drug Information Center
University of Rochester Medical Center
601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 321
Rochester, NY 14642
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (585) 273-3854 (TTY)
Long Island Regional Poison and Drug Information Center
Winthrop University Hospital
259 First Street
Mineola, NY 11501
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (516) 924-8811 (Suffolk); (516) 747-3323 (Nassau)
New York City Poison Control Center
NYC Bureau of Labs, 455 First Avenue, Room 123, Box 81
New York, NY 10016
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (212) 689-9014 (TDD)
Western New York Poison Center
Children's Hospital of Buffalo
219 Bryant Street
Buffalo, NY 14222
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222NORTH CAROLINA
Carolinas Poison Center
Carolinas Medical Center
5000 Airport Center Parkway, Suite B
Charlotte, NC 28208
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222NORTH DAKOTA
Hennepin Regional Poison Center
Hennepin County Medical Center
701 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 222-1222 (612) 904-4691 (TTY)OHIO
Central Ohio Poison Center
700 Children's Drive, Room L032
Columbus, OH 43205
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (614) 228-2272 (TTY)
Cincinnati Drug & Poison Information Center 3333 Burnet Avenue
Vernon Place - 3rd Floor
Cincinnati, OH 45229-9004
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 253-7955
Greater Cleveland Poison Control Center
11100 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106-6010
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma Poison Control Center
Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center
940 N.E. 13th Street, Room 3510
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (405) 271-1122OREGON
Oregon Poison Center
Oregon Health Sciences University
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, CB550
Portland, OR 97201
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222PENNSYLVANIA
Pittsburgh Poison Center
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
3705 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
The Poison Control Center
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
34th & Civic Center Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4303
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (215) 590-8789PUERTO RICO
San Jorge Children's Hospital Poison Center
Calle San Jorge #252
Santurce, Puerto Rico 00912
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222RHODE ISLAND
Regional Center for Poison Control and Prevention Serving Massachusetts and Rhode Island
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (888) 244-5313SOUTH CAROLINA
Palmetto Poison Center
College of Pharmacy
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222SOUTH DAKOTA
Hennepin Regional Poison Center
Hennepin County Medical Center
701 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 222-1222 (612) 904-4691 (TTY)TENNESSEE
Middle Tennessee Poison Center
501 Oxford House
1161 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37232-4632
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (615) 936-2047 (TDD)
Southern Poison Center
University of Tennessee
875 Monroe Avenue, Suite 104
Memphis, TN 38163
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222TEXAS
Central Texas Poison Center
Scott and White Memorial Hospital
2401 South 31st Street
Temple, TX 76508
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
North Texas Poison Center
at Parkland Memorial Hospital
5201 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75235
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
Southeast Texas Poison Center
The University of Texas Medical Branch
3.112 Trauma Building
Galveston, TX 77555-1175
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
South Texas Poison Center
The Univ of Texas Health Science Ctr - San Antonio
Department of Surgery, Mail Code 7849
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, TX 78229-3900
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
Texas Panhandle Poison Center
1501 S. Coulter
Amarillo, TX 79106
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
West Texas Regional Poison Center
Thomason Hospital
4815 Alameda Avenue
El Paso, TX 79905
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222UTAH
Utah Poison Control Center
410 Chipeta Way, Suite 230
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222VERMONT
Northern New England Poison Center
22 Bramhall Street
Portland, ME 04102
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (877) 299-4447 (ME only) (207) 871-2879VIRGINIA
Blue Ridge Poison Center
Jefferson Park Place
1222 Jefferson Park Ave.
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
National Capital Poison Center
3201 New Mexico Avenue, NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20016
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 222-1222
Virginia Poison Center
Medical College of Virginia Hospitals
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
P.O. Box 980522
Richmond, VA 23298-0522
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222WASHINGTON
Washington Poison Center
155 NE 100th Street, Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98125-8011
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (206) 517-2394 (TDD);
(800) 572-0638 (TDD WA only)WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia Poison Center
3110 MacCorkle Ave, S.E.
Charleston, WV 25304
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (304) 388-9698WISCONSIN
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Poison Center
PO Box 1997, Mail Station 677A
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1997
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (414) 266-2542WYOMING
The Poison Center
Children's Hospital
8200 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68114
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER
ASPCA
Animal Poison Control Center
1717 South Philo Road, Suite 36
Urbana, IL 61802
Emergency Phone: (888) 426-4435
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