You might wonder how to respond to potential poisonings. Should you use Poison Control’s online tool, call your local poison center, call 911, or drive to the emergency department?

Calling poison control can be a worrisome experience for anyone. A child may have swallowed a foreign substance, or an adult may have taken too many pain relievers after surgery. Someone may have had an accident with chemicals at a plant or suffered a wild animal bite in the woods.

Potential poisonings can happen to any person of any age at any time. And while not all toxin exposures lead to poisonings, it's still vital to act fast to avoid potentially life-threatening situations.

Use this guide to quickly and effectively find the best route for care.

What Is Poison Control?

Poison Control is another name for the National Capital Poison Center. It's an online tool, database, and call center to help people with possible poison exposure get adequate care quickly.

Poison exposure may be a lot more common than you think. Poison Control reports an average of over 2 million phone calls about human poison cases each year. While children under age 6 make up a disproportionate percentage of cases, poison exposures for teens and adults tend to be more severe.

Possible poison exposure may refer to many scenarios, including:

  • Accidentally ingesting or inhaling something (such as a household cleaner or toxic plant).

  • Animal and insect bites or stings.

  • Overdosing on medication.

  • Splashing something into your eyes.

No matter the situation, Poison Control is a nonbiased, nonjudgmental, and educational resource to guide you in the safest and quickest way possible. It's available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Poison Control can connect you to your local poison center and provide help in more than 150 languages. It's completely free to use.

What Are the Most Common Poison Control Calls?

For children under 5 years of age, the most common calls include exposure to:

  • Cleaning products.

  • Homeopathic supplements.

  • Personal care products.

  • Pesticides.

  • Plants.

  • Toys.

  • Vitamins.

For adults, the most common toxin is pain medication. Other common calls are about:

  • Alcohol

  • Antidepressants

  • Antihistamines

  • Cleaning substances

  • Pesticides

  • Sedatives

When Should You Call Poison Control Vs. Going to the Emergency Department?

With poison exposure, the situation can quickly become chaotic. You may be unsure about who to reach out to for help.

Here are guidelines about when to go to the emergency department or call Poison Control. These guidelines can help you get the right care quickly.

When to go to the Emergency Department or call 911 for poison exposure

It best to skip calling Poison Control and take the person to the emergency department or call 911 if the person is:

  • Collapsed.

  • Having trouble breathing.

  • Seizing.

  • Unconscious.

If they have other symptoms that seem severe enough to be life-threatening, use your best judgment about calling 911. The dispatchers will instruct you on what to do while you wait for emergency help to arrive.

It's helpful to gather as much information as you can about the person and the substance. You'll want to know:

  • The age, weight, and health of the person involved.

  • The amount of toxin taken or missing.

  • Current symptoms.

  • Length of exposure time.

  • Method of exposure (touching skin, inhaled, ingested, in the eyes).

  • Type of toxin involved in the incident.

In the case of situations involving medication or chemicals, the more information you can gather about the substance, the better. It helps to know:

  • Form taken (pill, liquid, powder).

  • Ingredient list.

  • Manufacturer.

  • Product name.

Keep the container and any other items that may help Poison Control or hospital staff.

When to call Poison Control for poison exposure

The National Capital Poison Center has an online triage tool called webPOISONCONTROL. It can help determine hundreds of poisons and the protocols for exposure.

It also has a phone line that will direct you to your local poison control center. A poison expert will answer and talk you through the steps to take.

It's best to skip the online module and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if:

  • Animals were exposed to the toxin.

  • The incident involved self-harm.

  • The person is pregnant.

  • The person is under 6 months or above 80 years of age.

  • The person had exposure to multiple substances/products.

If the person is awake, alert, and has minor or no symptoms, you can use the online module or call Poison Control.

The online tool will ask several questions, then immediately provide a protocol for the next steps. It'll also create a page of case details for you to reference or provide to medical professionals, if needed.

How Can I Help Someone Who is Poisoned?

In the case of poisoning, you should use the online tool or call the experts at Poison Control or 911. But knowing some accidental exposure safety tips for common poison situations may go a long way in someone’s care. Then, follow up on your first-aid care with expert help, either online or by phone.

Carbon monoxide exposure

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless fume produced from fuel burning. While high levels of carbon monoxide can become deadly, even low levels of exposure can pose lasting health effects.

If someone you know may have been exposed to carbon monoxide, move them outside to fresh air if you can. If they have collapsed or are unconscious, call 911 right away.

They may have the following simultaneous symptoms:

  • Drowsiness.

  • Fatigue.

  • Flu-like symptoms.

  • Headache.

  • Nausea.

Find a safe place for them to rest while you take the next steps in ensuring their care.

For other inhaled toxins, quickly move them to fresh air. Then, ventilate the area they were just in before seeking additional help.

Poison on the skin

First, quickly take off any contaminated clothing. Rinse the skin in the shower or sink for 15 to 20 minutes to completely irrigate the area. Mild soap may be helpful.

Note any burned, blistered, or red areas, and go to the emergency department if these symptoms worsen.

Swallowed toxins

If someone has ingested or inhaled a potential poison, don't tell them to try to vomit it back up. It's also not recommended to drink any liquids before speaking with Poison Control.

Toxins in the eyes

When toxins splash into the eyes, it's crucial to rinse the eyes for several minutes right away.

First, take out any contact lenses and use room-temperature water, either from the shower, sink, or pouring from a vessel. Continuously irrigate the eyes for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the irritation subsides. Encourage blinking throughout.

With Toxin Exposure, You Can't Be Too Cautious

Accidental exposure to toxins is more common than most people realize. Without proper guidance, the situation can quickly become life-threatening.

Remember to stay calm and alert so you can make quick decisions that could save someone’s life. Don’t wait for symptoms to occur after toxin exposure. Get online or call 911 right away to ensure you're taking every precaution possible.

Staffed by poison specialists, the Pittsburgh Poison Center provides information on poison 24 hours a day. For more information on its services, visit this website.