First, the poison specialist will collect your information and your relationship to the patient. Be prepared to give your phone number in case your call gets disconnected.

Second, give the patient’s name, age, and weight.

Third, describe of the situation (“I was stung by a caterpillar”, “I took my medication twice”. etc.) and be prepared to answer the following questions:

• What is the suspected poison and/or the active ingredient
• How much was taken
• When was it taken
• Does the patient have any symptoms
• Does the patient have any pre-existing health problems

All of this information provides the poison specialists with pertinent facts needed to develop a specific treatment plan.

Next, within minutes, the poison specialist will offer the caller advice tailored to their needs.

• If the poisoning is safe to treat at home, the poison specialist will explain what to do, symptoms to expect, and what to watch out for.
• For serious poisonings, the poison specialist will recommend treatment at a hospital, where the poison center can continue to manage the case.

References:

Florida Poison Control Centers. (2020). Make the Right Call. YouTube. Retrieved December 21, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr5lNGrN36Q&list=PL_gqfW9hq1xm0F1KvKckzzJJsGsZYw9M4.

Georgia Poison Center. Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved December 21, 2022, from https://www.georgiapoisoncenter.org/about/frequently-asked-questions/.

Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). What You Can do. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://poisonhelp.hrsa.gov/what-you-can-do.