Car accidents used to be the number one cause of accidental death in the U.S.; now that dubious distinction goes to unintentional poisoning.*
Poisonings are a common occurrence – about 10 million occur in the U.S. every year. Children and older adults are more likely to have poison accident, and more likely to be seriously physically injured from it.
Poisoning injury shouldn’t be taken lightly. Every day, we are exposed to chemicals, medicines and other products that can cause adverse reactions, injury or even death if ingested or taken improperly.
If you think someone has been poisoned, call 1-800-222-1222.
Save this number. It connects you to your local poison center, any time of the day, and any day of the year. The safety experts can help you identify the next steps to take for the poisoned victim, and guide you to a doctor or hospital if necessary. The Oregon Poison Center, hosted by OHSU, takes more than 55,000 calls annually.
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*”Unintentional Motor Vehicle Traffic Accidents” are still the leading causes of death for teenagers and adults under 25 years old; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
