The California Poison Control System (CPCS) is in place to provide free, professional, emergency poison control information. This service is provided to the general public, health professionals, educators, businesses, public agencies and others within California.
Their emergency information number is 1-800-222-1222. This number will connect you to trained health care professionals with experience handling poison cases 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Poison cases handled by CPCS can include:
- Swallowing poison
- Eye or skin irritation from toxic substances
- Inhalation of noxious fumes or vapors
- Animal, insect, snake and spider bites
- Food or mushroom poisoning
- Drug reactions
- Attempted suicides or drug overdoses
- Pet poisoning exposures
They have a 24-hour interpreter service, allowing them to provide this important service in over 100 languages 24 hours per day. Free downloadable materials and bulk hard copies (also free) are available in a wide variety of languages.
An important section of the CPCS covers information related to plant poisoning. From their site:
“Indoor and outdoor plants are responsible for a rising number of accidental poisonings. Plant ingestions are among the top five causes of accidental poisonings in children younger than 5 years. Pets are also frequent victims of plant poisonings.”
Take some time today to learn how to minimize or eliminate the potential for poisoning at home, at play, and in the workplace.