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Poison Center Helpline 1-800-222-1222

When to Call IPC

When to Call IPC

A trusted resource, IPC is here to help 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Find out when to call the IPC helpline—whether you’re calling for yourself or a loved one, or you’re a healthcare provider, law enforcement officer or first responder.

IPC Is Here to Help

By calling the IPC helpline (1-800-222-1222) you’ll receive expert advice on the topics listed below and for your poisoning concerns. Calls are free and confidential.

  • Accidental Pediatric Ingestions: Prescription and over-the-counter medications, cleaning products, cosmetics, automotive fluids, hydrocarbons, plants, and anything else!
  • Bites and Stings: Spiders, bees, wasps, animals (bats, skunks, raccoons, pets), poisonous or non-poisonous snakes
  • Dermal Exposures: Skin contamination with caustics or other chemicals
  • Eye Exposures: Any substance that gets in the eye
  • Foodborne Illnesses: Bacterial food poisoning, botulism, fish poisoning, contaminants
  • Foreign Body Ingestions: Batteries, toys, glass, magnets
  • Hazardous Materials: Chemical spills and environmental releases
  • Inhalation Exposures: Irritant gases, and systemic poisons such as carbon monoxide
  • Biological or Chemical Agents: Biological and chemical incidents or nuclear radioactivity
  • Medication Errors: Wrong medication, too much medication, medication given to the wrong person, drug-drug or drug-food interactions
  • Poison Prevention: Educational materials (literature, stickers, magnets) and free online education and continuing education credit
  • Substance Abuse: Use of drugs or inhalants for recreation
  • Suicides: Intentional self-harm attempts using drug or non-drug agents

Here when you need us

80k Total cases managed yearly
41% Cases involving children ages 5 or under
90% Cases from the public resolved over the phone