Glossary / Emergency response
Poison control center
A poison control center is a service staffed by trained specialists who give free, expert advice on poisonings and chemical exposures. In the United States, the national line is 1-800-222-1222.
Explanation
Poison control centers help in both emergencies and ordinary questions. A call about a swallowed cleaning product, a chemical splash or a pesticide exposure can quickly tell you whether to treat at home, go to a clinic or call an ambulance. Calls are routed to a local center, and the service operates around the clock.
Specialists will ask what the product is, how much was involved, how it entered the body, the age and weight of the person and the time that has passed. Having the container, the product label and the SDS in hand makes the call faster and the advice more accurate. Do not wait for symptoms before calling, as some poisons act slowly.
Poison control is for medical advice on human exposure. It differs from CHEMTREC, the 24-hour emergency information service that supplies hazard and response information for chemical spills and transport incidents. Where someone is unconscious, not breathing or having seizures, call emergency services first.
Employers should post the poison control number with first-aid supplies, and include it in training and emergency procedures. Section 4 of the SDS gives the first-aid steps to take before and during the call, and Section 1 of many SDSs lists an emergency telephone number of the supplier.
What to do and watch for
- Keep the product container, label or SDS with you when you call.
- Do not induce vomiting or give anything by mouth unless the SDS or the specialist instructs it.
- Post the poison control number near telephones and first-aid stations.
Where it appears on an SDS
- Section 4: First-aid measures. First-aid measures are listed by route of exposure, and they may advise contacting a poison center or a doctor.
- Section 1: Identification. The supplier's emergency telephone number is given here and is a separate contact from the poison control line.
SDS content and wording vary by supplier. This page is general reference and does not replace the current SDS for your product.