Northern New England Poison Center Information

Contact Information Northern New England Poison Center 22 Bramhall Street Portland, Maine 04102 Toll Free Hotline:  1-800-222-1222 Administrative Office:  207-662-0111 Website:  www.nnepc.org

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

What is a poison?

A poison is any substance that can make you sick or cause harmful effects in the body. Poisons can also kill you. Poisonings can happen to people of all ages. Even though the Northern New England Poison Center (NNEPC) http://www.nnepc.org receives more calls concerning children less than 6 years; however, older adults tend to have more serious health effects or deaths due to poisonings.

What are common poisons?

Most poisonings are the result of the ingestion (swallowing) of a poisonous substance. Most children under 6 years of age ingest medicines and other substances while exploring and imitating behaviors of older children and adults. Medications are the number one cause of unintentional poisonings in all age groups reported to the NNEPC. The NNEPC also treats ocular (exposures in the eye), dermal (exposures on the skin), inhalations (breathing a poison), and insect, snake, spider and animal bites.

Who gets poisoned?

Nearly half of reported Vermont poisonings involve children under the age of six. Exposures for teens account for nearly a quarter of the Vermont poisonings. Few people realize that adults get poisoned too. Over 11% of Vermont poisonings occur in 40 years and older.

Pets get poisoned too. Like children, dogs and cats are curious. They have the natural instinct to lick and chew. Many things that are not poisonous to humans can be harmful or fatal to animals.

What to do if someone is poisoned:

• CALL THE NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND POISON CENTER TOLL FREE: 1-800-222-1222

   

• To learn about first aid for poisonings, visit http://www.mmc.org/mmc_body.cfm?id=3067

• Person collapsed or stopped breathing? Call 911 or your local emergency number right away

Educational Programs/OutreachVermont has an Outreach Educator, Gayle Finkelstein, MSRN, for poison prevention and poison information. She can provide site visits for lectures in poison prevention and education. She can be reached at 802-847-2393 or gayle.finkelstein@vtmednet.org. For more information visit http://www,mmc.org/mmc_body.cfm?id=3091. There are exciting new materials and information available through the Northern New England Poison Center, visit online at www.nnepc.org. You can call 1-800-222-1222 for poison information or if there is a poison emergency. The Poison Center is a Certified Center serving Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

 

 

What is the NNEPC phone number? The NNEPC is available using a nationwide toll-free number, 1-800-222-1222. The NNEPC provides services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY and interpretation services are immediately available. Services are free and confidential. Specially trained nurses and pharmacists handle Poison Center calls.

Poison Facts:

• In 2004, poisoning was second only to motor vehicle crashes as the cause of death from unintentional injury in the United States.

• Nearly all United States poisoning deaths are attributed to drugs and most of these are related to prescription abuse or illegal drugs.

• 8457 exposures for Vermont were reported in 2007.

• Approximately 81% of all Vermont calls to the Northern New England Poison Center in 2007 were treated at home through telephone management provided by trained Specialists in Poison Information.

• 45% of all Vermont poisonings in 2007 involve children under or equal to the age of 5.

• 75% of Vermont exposures to the NNEPC in 2007 were from own residence and 81% were managed on site at home or non-health care facility.

• Medicines account for 36% of all Vermont poisoning exposures to the NNECP in 2007.

• Most poisonings are unintentional -- They can be prevented.