Poison Control
Alert
Call 911 if you have a poison emergency and the victim has collapsed and/or is not breathing!
Call the Poison Help Number @ 800-222-1222 if the victim is awake and alert
Each year in the United States, poison control centers receive over 4 million calls, nearly half involving children under age 6. Poisons - substances that can cause illness, injury, or death when absorbed into the body - are a leading cause of unintentional death. Since over 90% of poisonings occur at home, it is especially important to be aware of potential hazards in everyday environments.
Last updated: 3/26/2026
What To Do If a Poisoning Occurs
- Remain calm!
- Call 911 if you have a poison emergency and the victim has collapsed and/or is not breathing
- Call 800-222-1222 if the victim is awake and alert
- Have this information ready if possible:
- The victim's age and weight
- The container or bottle of the poison if available
- The time of the poison exposure
- The address where the poisoning occurred
- Stay on the phone and follow the instructions from the emergency operator or poison control center
General Tips
- Install a carbon monoxide detector and change batteries at least every 6 months
- Create a contact for Poison Control (800-222-1222) in parent, grandparent, babysitting, sibling, etc. cellphones
- Teach children to ask an adult before eating, drinking, or touching anything
- Keep all batteries out of children's reach
- Keep magnetic toys and other magnetic items away from small children
- Know the name of all household plants in your home and yard; remove any poisonous plants
- Keep all medications, household cleaning products, and pesticides away from both children and pets
