IPC keeps the public safe from poisoning harm. Our expert-led helpline provides treatment recommendations to the public and healthcare providers.
With our dedicated team of experts, IPC saves lives and improves patient care. IPC has a critical role in the health and well-being of residents across the Illinois. We save Illinoisans $60 million annually by preventing unnecessary utilization of healthcare resources.
About 39% of poison exposure calls involve children ages 5 or younger. IPC’s helpline experts resolved 90% of the poison exposure calls from the public over the phone, eliminating the need for a referral to a healthcare facility. This high success rate prevented an estimated 30,000 emergency department visits in 2022.
Medical professionals throughout Illinois turn to IPC for specialized consultation services in the management of poisoned patients. Healthcare professionals called the IPC on:
The top three substances involved in exposures reported to IPC are analgesics, cleaning substances and antidepressants. Here’s the complete list of top substances involved in exposures in 2022:
See our 2022 fact sheet.
Our course covers poison prevention in seven short lessons and quizzes. It offers continuing education credit and free IPC giveaways.
IPC offers free poison prevention resources to empower parents, teachers and public officials in preventing poisonings.
It happens often. Children eat something or get something in their eye that they shouldn’t have. Get expert advice on what to do next.