Possible Poisoning: Why Poison Control Should Be One of Your First Calls

Possible poisoning is one of the easiest emergencies to make worse with a well-intentioned home remedy. The correct response depends on the substance, dose, route of exposure, age, and symptoms.

Call 911 for immediate life threats

If the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be awakened, call 911 immediately.

Otherwise, get poison-specific guidance

In the United States, Poison Control is available by phone at 1-800-222-1222 or online through webPOISONCONTROL / PoisonHelp.org. The service is free and confidential.

Do not make the person vomit

Inducing vomiting after a swallowed poison is no longer recommended and can cause additional injury depending on what was swallowed.

Do not wait for symptoms to appear

Some serious poisonings do not cause obvious symptoms right away. Getting expert guidance early is safer than waiting for certainty.

Poison Control exists so you do not have to guess.

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Sources and further reading: Poison Control — First Aid for Poisonings, webPOISONCONTROL, and America's Poison Centers. Educational information only; for a suspected poisoning in the United States, call 1-800-222-1222 or use PoisonHelp.org. Call 911 for collapse, seizure, breathing trouble, or inability to awaken.