Inside HRSA, March 2007 issue, Health Resources and Services Administration
 
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HRSA Program Fights Poisonings

For poison help, dial 1-800-222-1222

HRSA's Poison Control Program plays a vital role in combating accidental poisonings — a topic that receives wide attention during National Poison Prevention Week, March 18-24.

The statistics are alarming:

  • Each year, more than 2.4 million poison exposures are reported to the nation's 61 HRSA-supported Poison Control Centers.

  • Over half of poisonings occur in children younger than age 5.

  • Unintentional poisoning deaths are the 2nd leading cause of injury death for 35-54 year-olds and the 3rd leading cause of injury death for 25-34 year-olds.

To Learn More:

Visit HRSA's Poison Control Program

The good news is that over 70 percent of poisoning exposures are treatable over the phone with guidance from trained health care professionals at the Poison Control Centers, funded in part by the Poison Control Program, located in HRSA's Healthcare Systems Bureau.

HRSA dollars also support a national telephone poison hotline (1-800-222-1222) that connects callers to local Poison Control Centers. The hotline provides interpreter services in 161 languages.

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