California Poison Control Services 2009-2010

-
Investigator: Stuart Heard, PharmD
Sponsor: CALIF Emergency Med Svcs Authority

Location(s): United States

Description

A single toll-free 800 number is available to all areas of California. By calling 1-800-222-1222 anywhere in California, you can obtain emergency information on:

  • Swallowing poison
  • Eye or skin irritation from toxic substances
  • Inhalation of noxious fumes or vapors
  • Animal, insect, snake and spider bites
  • Food or mushroom poisoning
  • Drug reactions
  • Attempted suicides or drug overdoses

Calls are handled quickly, accurately, professionally and free-of-charge all over the state 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For decades, there have been many poison centers in California, each with its own phone number and individual way of providing service for a small area.

In 1997, a new system for providing uniform poison services for the entire state was developed. The University of California San FranciscoSchool of Pharmacy - Department of Clinical Pharmacyprovides administrative services for the California Poison Control System (CPCS). The CPCS combined the services of four existing poison centers: