U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

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Poison Help 1-800-222-1222 [logo]

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1-800-222-1222

When accidents happen with chemicals, medicine, or household items, call Poison Help. Get help right away from a local poison expert.

If someone is unconscious or has trouble breathing, call 911.

Poison Centers

Poison Centers Nationwide

What Does a Poison Center Do?

Every day of the year, 24 hours a day, the nation’s 57 poison centers help with poisoning emergencies and provide information to help prevent poisonings. Specially trained poison experts at these centers – nurses, pharmacists, and doctors – can be reached by calling the toll-free Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222), which connects you to your local poison center.

Poison centers provide:

  • Help with a poisoning emergency, which can often be solved over the phone rather than calling 911 or visiting the emergency room
  • Advice to health care professionals and the general public
  • Poison prevention and treatment educational materials, including information on National Poison Prevention Week 
  • Real-time data collection that aids in detecting public health emergencies
  • Free and confidential help, with translation services available in 161 languages. Service is available throughout the entire United States and many territories.

The nation’s poison centers are locally operated and funded through a combination of state and private sources, as well as congressionally mandated federal funds.1 They are often supported by a hospital or university.

Map of Poison Centers (PDF - 653 KB)

Poison Centers (text-only)

1. Poison Center Support, Enhancement and Awareness Act of 2008