More than sixty years have passed since Congress and President Kennedy first authorized the designation of National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW), proving that poison centers are here for the ages. There are currently 55 poison centers throughout the U.S. that provide 24/7/365 fast, free, confidential treatment advice. Each year, the specially trained pharmacists, nurses, and physicians manage more than 2 million poisoning cases. These medical experts save lives by providing essential public health information to people of all ages.

 

Poison centers, government agencies, the executive and legislative branches, and other organizations use NPPW to raise awareness about the usefulness of poison centers and the Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222). In fact, a White House proclamation for NPPW is released annually. This year’s full proclamation is available for view here. In addition, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sponsored a resolution in order to recognize the week of March 20 through March 26, 2022, as National Poison Prevention Week. “Ohio is the proud home to two Poison Control Centers and I’m grateful for the lifesaving work the workers there do to keep our communities safe. As we recognize National Poison Prevention Week, we must continue to support the work of the CDC and ensure staff, faculty, and other experts at our Poison Control Centers have the resources they need,” said Senator Brown.

 

About 90%  of poisonings happen at home. “Parents and caregivers juggle many responsibilities at home and often children have access to products that may cause a poisoning,” said Julie Weber, President of the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). Poison Prevention Week is a great opportunity to learn about resources and establish home safety practices. A call to our medical experts will ensure that we keep families safe and prevent unintentional poison exposures. Approximately 70 % of cases managed by people who call the Poison Help line get the help they need right where they are — saving the cost of an unnecessary trip to a doctor or hospital. If you have questions or suspect you may have been exposed to a poison, a call to the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 is best or use our online tool at www.PoisonHelp.org. All NPPW 2022 resources and activities are available on the AAPCC website at www.aapcc.org/nppw-2022/.

Four ways to prepare, prevent, and protect against poisoning:

1. Save the Poison Help Hotline number, 1-800-222-1222, into your mobile phone.

2. Display the Poison Help Hotline contact number throughout your home.

3. Online Poison Help: log on to www.PoisonHelp.org, the official site of the AAPCC.

4. Follow AAPCC on social:

Web: www.aapcc.org

Twitter: www.twitter.com/AAPCC

Facebook: www.facebook.com/aapcc/

 

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