KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Last year the University of Kansas Hospital Poison Control Center handled more than 32,000 calls, including 20,000 in direct response to poisonings, saving hundreds of lives and many millions of dollars in health care costs to Kansans. But the center would like to handle even more calls.
Often people react to potential poisonings by calling 9-1-1. While in most medical emergencies that might be the most appropriate number, which is not necessarily true in the case of poisonings.
According to Daling McMoran, the education specialist with The University of Kansas Hospital Poison Control Center, 1-800-222-1222 might be the better number to call.
“Often an expert at Poison Control can help you over the phone. The expert can give first aid advice. He or she can tell you what to look for. In fact, more than 75% of poisonings are taken care of on the phone. A call to poison control could save you money on a costly emergency room visit.
“If the poison expert thinks you have an emergency that requires hands-on care, the expert will tell you to call 9-1-1,” McMoran explained.
McMoran also noted that The University of Kansas Hospital Poison Control Center can also help in non-emergency cases.
“If you think someone has been poisoned, call Poison Help. Don’t wait for signs of poisoning. Many poisonings can be avoided with a call to the poison center.
“The poison center is also their to help answer many other questions, like will these medication interact with another, plant question, ways to be safe and to protect you family, and many other things to help with preventing a toxic exposure. Your problem can most likely be solved on the phone. The medical experts will provide help with any possible poisoning, even if you are not sure a poisoning has occurred,” he said.
Poisonings remain a major medical issue in the United States, but universal access to the 1-800-222-1222, has proven beneficial. Calls in different states can go to different poison control centers. All calls originating in the state of Kansas are routed to The University of Kansas Hospital Poison Control Center.
It is a free service of the hospital and is open to health care workers, daycare centers, parents, babysitters, school nurses, grandparents, nursing homes, workplaces: anyone can call regarding any kind of poison exposure or for poison information. The Poison Control Center can provide interested individuals or groups with educational materials such as magnets, stickers and brochures.
The month of March has been designated as Poison Control Month. In addition, the week of March 16-22 is has been designated as Poison Prevention Week by Governor Sebelius.