Poison center opens free national hotline

Advertiser Staff

Have a poison emergency? The number to call is (800) 222-1222.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers is promoting its new hotline, which connects people across the country to poison treatment and prevention experts 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

The trained nurses, pharmacists and doctors can respond to poison emergencies and answer poison-related questions about medicines, household products and other potentially dangerous substances.

The service is free.

About 30 children each year die in the United States from accidental poisoning, and approximately

1 million phone calls are placed to poison control centers annually by adults seeking help when children have swallowed something harmful. On average, poison centers in the United States manage a poison exposure every 14 seconds.

Hawai'i residents can also continue to call the local poison center at 941-4411 or toll-free from Neighbor Islands (800) 362-3585.