Many Marylanders have a poison control number on a fridge magnet and no clear idea of when to use it. Knowing what the service does can save minutes when a child swallows something or an adult takes the wrong medicine.
What is the Maryland Poison Center?
The Maryland Poison Center (MPC) is part of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, which established it in 1972. It is a regional poison center certified by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, and it serves Maryland and Washington, D.C.
How do you reach it?
The number is 1-800-222-1222. The service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and calls are free. The same number connects callers to poison centers across the United States.
Who answers the phone?
Emergency calls are handled by pharmacists and registered nurses who have additional training in toxicology and are certified as specialists in poison information. They can advise on whether a situation can be managed at home or whether the person needs to be seen urgently.
When should you call the poison center?
The service is designed for situations such as:
- A child has swallowed a household product, a plant or medication.
- Someone has taken too much of a medicine, or the wrong medicine.
- A person has been exposed to a chemical, fumes or a bite or sting and you are unsure how serious it is.
- You want advice on whether something that has been swallowed is harmful.
It is better to call early than to wait for symptoms to appear.
When should you call 911 instead?
If a person has collapsed, is having a seizure, is struggling to breathe or cannot be woken, call 911 immediately rather than waiting for advice. The poison center can guide a caller, but it is not a substitute for emergency services when someone’s life is in danger.
A few ways to prepare
- Save the number in every phone in the household.
- Keep medicines and cleaning products in their original containers, out of children’s reach.
- If you call, have the product container and the person’s age and approximate weight to hand, since those details help the specialist advise you.
- Stay on the line and follow the instructions you are given.
Why it matters
Poisonings are often accidents that happen at home, and a quick, expert answer can help a family decide what to do next.
This article is general information, not medical advice. In an emergency call 911. For advice about a possible poisoning, call 1-800-222-1222.
Sources: Maryland Poison Center; University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
