DID YOU KNOW:

Poison centers throughout the United States

handle one poison exposure every 13 seconds.

March 19, 2012 -- Since 1961, the third week in March has been designated as National Poison Prevention Week. National Poison Prevention Week is commissioned by the National Poison Prevention Week Council, an organization of public and private partners who are dedicated to reducing unintentional poisonings and promoting poison prevention.

Portland Fire & Rescue’s (PF&R) overall goal is to help protect the safety of individuals, their families, and the entire City of Portland community.  In commemoration of National Poison Prevention Week, PF&R will highlight Oregon’s Poison Center, provide additional poison prevention resources, and highlight poisoning facts.   

If you live in the state of Oregon or in the territories of Alaska and Guam, your 24-hour health care information and treatment resource is the Oregon Poison Center.  The Oregon Poison Center is located on the campus of Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon.  The Center was established in 1978 to provide emergency treatment information for patients experiencing a poisoning or toxic exposure, public outreach, and education to health care professionals. 

The Poison Center staff, made up of doctors and nurses trained in toxicology, handle nearly 60,000 calls a year.  About 73% of the calls are about unintentional poisonings at home.  Over 44% of all poisonings happen to children under the age of five years.

If you have a poison emergency or question, you are encouraged to contact the Poison Center hot line number immediately at 1-800-222-1222.  This is a free service and is available to you 24-hours a day. Please also place a call to the Poison Center in the following circumstances:

• You suspect accidental or purposeful ingestion of a substance that might be dangerous
• There is skin or eye exposure to chemicals
• Any suspected ingestion of any substance not intended for food, including vitamins

Poison Prevention Information & Tips

• Basic poison information
• Tour of home poisons
• First aid for poisons
• Seasonal hazards
• Plant safety tips
• Animal poison safety

Questions?
Further questions about the Oregon Poison Center? Visit their official website at http://www.ohsu.edu/poison to learn more!