A Day In the Life of Your Poison Center

Have you ever wondered why someone would call a Poison Center? Or what kinds of calls would a Poison Center handle? Below is a snapshot of ‘A Day in the Life of Your Poison Center’. It captures the various scenarios of calls that a Poison Center manages on any given day. The scenarios are a brief snapshot of how a call to the Poison Center may begin.

Many calls, especially those originating from healthcare facilities, involve in depth consultations with the Poison Center Specialists. Calls may take anywhere from a few minutes to 30 minutes or more in length for critical situations. Specialists provide very specific treatment advice including antidote administration and dosing, supportive care recommendations, observation recommendations including length of observation, monitoring criteria and answer specific questions healthcare providers may have about a drug or poison. Poison Specialists have access to databases that enable them to find ingredient information on consumer products to help manage poisoning cases. Medical Toxicologists are also consulted on some cases.

Calls originating from the public are also managed by Poison Center staff and because of the training and expertise of the staff, most of these exposures can be safely managed outside of a healthcare facility. This expertise saves millions of dollars in unnecessary healthcare costs each year.

Midnight to 7:00am

An ER called about a 14-year-old who took 15 fluoxetine in a self-harm attempt.
A 4-year-old swallowed the toothpaste off his toothbrush.
An ER called about a 44-year-old took cyclobenzaprine in a self-harm attempt.
An ER called about a 14-year-old who took a handful of ibuprofen in a self-harm attempt.
An ER called about a 20-year-old who ingested a mouthful of all-purpose cleaner in a self-harm attempt.
An ER called about a 16-year-old who ingested 20 to 25 tablets of alprazolam in a self-harm attempt.
A caller asked to identify a medication; identified as clonazepam.
An ER called about a 38-year-old who accidentally ingested 3 extra tablets of her seizure medication.
A long-term care facility called about a 97-year-old who was given 24 units of Lantus instead of 8 units.
A 19-year-old accidentally rinsed her mouth with aftershave instead of mouthwash.
A Pharmacist called for information on drug interactions between two medications.
An ER called about a 19-year-old who ingested diphenhydramine and ibuprofen in a self-harm attempt.
A 4-year-old was accidentally given 1 tablespoon of Children’s Tylenol instead of 1 teaspoon.
An ER called about a 13-year-old who ingested her grandmother’s medication in a self-harm attempt.
A 40-year-old accidentally cooked stew with the absorbent pad under the stew meat in the meal.
A 21-year-old took ibuprofen in a self-harm attempt.
An ER called about a 61-year-old who took 20 topiramate in a self-harm attempt.

7:00am to 9:00am

A 2-year-old swallowed a mouthful of toilet bowl cleaner.
A 47-year-old accidentally took a double dose of her inhaler.
A 21-month-old swallowed 5 extra strength antacid smoothies.
A 44-year-old accidentally took two medications with the same ingredient.
A 26-year-old was concerned about mold in his apartment.
A caller asked to identify a medication; identified as hydrocodone and acetaminophen.
An ER called about a 16-year-old who made a smoothie with cherries and may have swallowed the pits.

9:00am to 10:00am

An ER called about a 23-year-old who took sertraline in a self-harm attempt.
A 2-year-old ingested 12 multivitamin gummies.
An ER called about a 71-year-old who took a double dose of his propranolol.
A 59-year-old inhaled ashes from the fireplace.

10:00am to 11:00am

A caller asked to identify a medication; identified as Tylenol.
An ER called about a 77-year-old who intentionally took omeprazole.
A 19-month-old drank the liquid out of the wall plug in.
A 14-month-old bit into a dishwasher pack.
An ER called about a 48-year-old who intentionally took a handful of Benadryl.
A 2-year-old drank a mouthful of hand sanitizer.
A 13-month-old drank a mouthful of toilet bowl cleaner.
A 2-year-old swallowed a taste of superglue.
An 85-year-old patient with dementia squirted hand sanitizer in her mouth.

11:00am to 12:00pm

A 9-month-old swallowed a taste of dishwasher detergent.
An 89-year-old was concerned about food poisoning after eating ribs.
A 76-year-old accidentally rubbed muscle rub in her eye.
An ER called about a 3-year-old who ingested an unknown amount of marijuana gummies.
A police officer called to identify a medication; identified as alprazolam.
A 10-year-old ingested ink from a pen.
A school nurse called because a student accidentally received the wrong dose of medication.
A 56-year-old accidentally rinsed her mouth with isopropyl alcohol.

12:00pm to 1:00pm

A 72-year-old called because her blood pressure was elevated and asked if it was from her medication.
An ER called about a 35-year-old who took 10 amitriptyline.
A 35-year-old accidentally ingested hair conditioner that spilled on a toothbrush.
A 21-month-old dumped laundry detergent out on his hands and put his hands in his mouth.

1:00pm to 2:00pm

A 17-month-old ingested dog feces.
An 18-month-old ingested part of a marijuana edible.
An ER called about a 58-year-old who was at work at a factory and an unknown powder accidentally got into his eye.
A 3-year-old swallowed a few ounces of Children’s Tylenol.
An ER called about a 36-year-old who was pressure washing his basement and was exposed to carbon monoxide.

2:00pm to 3:00pm

Caller requesting Poison Control phone stickers and magnets.
A 57-year-old accidentally ingested some of the liquid from a wall plug in.
A 3-year-old’s brother put fish food into her milk, and she drank it.
An 11-month-old got into Grandma’s purse and swallowed a blood pressure medication.
An ER calling about a 17-year-old who ingested zolpidem in a self-harm attempt.
A 3-year-old ingested several water beads.
A 54-year-old accidentally put superglue in his eye instead of eye drops.
An ER calling about a 16-year-old who ingested ranitidine in a self-harm attempt.
A Police officer calling to ask what schedule alprazolam is.
An 18-month-old swallowed one B12 vitamin.
A 72-year-old accidentally took 2 of her B vitamins.

3:00pm to 4:00pm

An ER calling on a 23-year-old who took ibuprofen, Benadryl, propranolol, trazodone and clonazepam in a self-harm attempt.
An ER calling on a 27-year-old with a history of heroin use who was found unresponsive.
A Dog ate a tablet of garcinia cambogia.
A 2-year-old ingested diaper rash cream.
A 2-year-old ingested one mouthful of mouthwash.
A 3-year-old ingested a red berry from the backyard.
A caller asked to identify a medication; identified as Percocet.
A 55-year-old picked wild mushrooms, cooked them, ate them and experienced nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

4:00pm to 5:00pm

An ER calling about a 16-year-old who had been taking promethazine and had EKG changes.
An 88-year-old called to ask about drug interactions between Benadryl and alprazolam.
An ER calling on a 17-year-old who took trazodone in a self-harm attempt.
A 4-year-old was given a double dose of his ear drops for 4 days.
A 2-year-old ingested a mouthful of toothache relief medicine.
An 8-month-old bit into a stress ball and ingested some of the liquid.
A 13-month-old ingested a mouthful of diaper rash cream.
A 16-month-old ingested a mouthful of foaming bathroom cleaner with bleach.
An ER calling about a 39-year-old who was sprayed in the face with freon while at work.
An ER calling on a 16-year-old who took Tylenol in a self-harm attempt.
An ER calling on a 38-year-old who took an unknown amount of venlafaxine in a self-harm attempt.

5:00pm to 6:00pm

A 2-year-old ingested shampoo and vomited.
A 2-year-old smeared lip balm on herself and tasted some of it.
A 65-year-old accidentally splashed bleach in her eye.
A 30-year-old male was gardening and was bitten on the top of his foot by a snake.
An ER calling on a 51-year-old who ingested alprazolam and zolpidem in a self-harm attempt.
A Dog licked the spackling from a hole in the wall.
A 37-year-old was concerned the scotch he drank was contaminated.
A 4-year-old ingested 20 gummy vitamins.
An ER calling about a 26-year-old who ingested clonazepam in a self-harm attempt.
An ER calling about a 15-year-old who ingested Adderall and caffeine and had chest pain.

6:00pm to 7:00pm

A 20-year-old was siphoning gasoline and accidentally swallowed some.
An ER calling on a 2-year-old who ingested teething gel.
A 17-month-old ingested a water bead.
A dog swallowed an unknown amount of chocolate.
A 36-year-old accidentally gave herself the wrong dose of semaglutide.
An ER calling about an adult patient with an oxycodone overdose.
A 24-year-old accidentally mixed bleach and ammonia while cleaning.
An ER called about a 4-year-old who swallowed a button battery.

7:00pm to 8:00pm

A 2-year-old ingested hand sanitizer.
An ER calling on a 58-year-old who took his blood pressure medications in a self-harm attempt.
A 2-year-old ingested 3 milliliters of vape solution with nicotine.
An ER calling about an 18-year-old who ingested 2 ziprasidone in a self-harm attempt.
An adult drank an entire bottle of nighttime cold medication for an unknown reason.
A 3-year-old ingested one paroxetine.
A caller asked to identify a medication; identified as hydrocodone and acetaminophen.
A 4-year-old autistic child ingested 20 antacid tablets.
A 42-year-old accidentally gave himself the wrong dose of insulin.
A 10 month old ingested hand sanitizer.

8:00pm to 9:00pm

An ER calling because a patient accidentally took her husband’s blood pressure medication.
A 2-year-old ingested infant gas drops.
An 11-year-old took 12 calcium with vitamin D gummy drops.
A 56-year-old mistakenly took 6000mg of Tylenol per day for 4 days.
A 12-month-old swallowed a sip of isopropyl alcohol.
A 6-year-old swallowed 4 ounces of Tylenol.
A 67-year-old accidentally took a double dose of Tylenol Arthritis.
A 30-year-old accidentally took his rivaroxaban twice.
A 7-year-old ate 18 gummy vitamins thinking they were candy.
A 51-year-old accidentally took his paroxetine, lisinopril and atorvastatin medications twice.
A 3-year-old was caught with an ant trap in her mouth.
A 2-year-old swallowed some laundry detergent.
A 3-year-old was given cough medicine by both her mother and her father.
A 2-year-old swallowed 2 Excedrin.

9:00pm to 10:00pm

A 30-year-old was exposed to carbon monoxide in his home.
A 2-year-old ingested part of an unsmoked cigarette.
A 15-month-old was accidentally given a double dose of Tylenol.
A 65-year-old took 80 units of Novolog instead of her Lantus.
A 6-year-old was given 10ml instead of 5ml of cough medication.
A 70-year-old accidentally took 100 units of Lantus instead of 50 units.
An ER calling about a 42-year-old male who ingested a double dose of lisinopril and alcohol.

10:00pm to 11:00pm

A 2-year-old ingested white vinegar.
A 14-month-old ingested an unknown amount of cetirizine.
A 32-year-old ingested carbamazepine and vomited.
A pregnant 31-year-old took a double dose of amoxicillin.
A 72-year-old accidentally took 20 units of insulin instead of 6 units.
A 15-month-old had been vomiting and parents were concerned about food poisoning.
An ER called about a 48-year-old who was found unresponsive and may have overdosed

11:00pm to 12:00am

A 30-year-old ingested a bottle of cough medication to get high.
An ER calling on an 18-year-old who ingested multiple marijuana edibles.
An ER calling on a 16-year-old who ingested a handful of amitriptyline in a self-harm attempt.

In addition to the above calls, Poison Center staff managed 24 call backs from healthcare professionals and the lay public with additional questions on cases previously called in to the Poison Center that day. Poison Center specialists also completed 62 follow-up calls to healthcare facilities and the public on ongoing, active cases. The Poison Center is staffed 24/7 /365 by Medical Toxicologists, Clinical Toxicologists, Nurses, Pharmacists, Paramedics, EMT’s and other Allied Health Professionals. Anyone can call the Poison Center for help, whether you are a parent or calling about yourself or are a Healthcare Professional. The Poison Center is available 24/7/365 to help you!