Poison Response

The Poison Control Center will ask you to provide basic information regarding the poison exposure so they can make accurate recommendations. The more specific the information you can provide, the better the Poison Center will be able to help you. All calls are free and confidential.

When you call, you will be asked the following questions:

• What was the poison? (product name and strength if it is a medication).
• How much of the poison was involved?
• How is the person feeling now? (Or what symptoms is the person experiencing?)
• What is the person's age, weight, and health status or issues?
• When did the exposure occur? 
• What, if any, treatment was attempted for the poisoning? 
• What is your zip code? (for geographic tracking of poisonings in the state)

Put the Poison Control Center number, 800-222-1222, on or near every home telephone and save it on your cell phone. Calls are free and the line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Other tips include:

• Keep all drugs in medicine cabinets or other childproof cabinets that young children cannot reach. Learn about proper medicine storage.

• Turn on a light when you prepare medicines for children so you know you have the correct amount of the right medicine.

• Avoid taking medicine in front of children because they often copy adults.

• Do not call medicine "candy."

• Be aware of any legal or illegal drugs that guests may bring into your home. Do not let guests leave drugs where children can find them, for example, in a pillbox, purse, backpack, or coat pocket.

• When you take medicines yourself, do not put your next dose on the counter or table where children can reach them.

• Safely dispose of prescription drugs by participating in the National Prescription Take Back Day.

• Never leave children alone with household products or drugs. If you are using chemical products or taking medicine and you have to do something else, such as answer the phone, take any young children with you.

• Do not leave household products out after using them. Return the products to a childproof cabinet as soon as you are done with them.

• Identify poisonous plants in your house and yard and place them out of reach of children or remove them.

Pesticides are frequently used in household and agricultural applications to kill unwanted insects, rodents, or weeds. At home, remember to always follow the application instructions, store pesticides out of reach of children, and properly dispose of unwanted pesticides. The National Pesticide Information Center has resources for health effects of common household and agricultural pesticides as well as information on pesticide exposures, spills and cleanup.

In Idaho, the State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is the agency responsible for regulating pesticides in agriculture. If you are concerned with an accidental pesticide exposure from an agricultural application, contact ISDA for more information. 

*If you are concerned that an individual’s health is immediately at risk after a pesticide exposure, call 911 or Poison Control at 800-222-1222. Remove any contaminated clothing and rinse or shower with clean water.

The Poison Control Center will refer calls about pets to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) is a resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call 888-426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card for their service.