Calling for Help

When you call the poison center:

Identify yourself and give your relationship to the patient. Give your phone number in case your call is disconnected.

Describe the patient by name, age, and weight.

If possible, have the container or poison in your hand and identify the best you can:

What was taken?
When was it taken?
How much was taken?
How is the patient acting?

Be prepared to answer many questions. This information provides the specialist with pertinent facts needed to develop a specific treatment plan.

It is very important to follow the advice given by the Poison Control Center or physician

The Oklahoma Poison Control Center web site is provided free of charge to the public as an informational and educational tool. This web site is NOT intended as a substitute for a consultation with the Oklahoma Poison Control Center. The center is a statewide program operated by The University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy in cooperation with Children´s Hospital at the OU Medical Center. Our pharmacists and nurses are specially trained poison experts available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Suspected Poisonings Call: 1-800-222-1222

"We note that poison control centers are health care providers for purposes of this rule. We consider the counseling and follow-up consultation provided by poison control centers with individual providers regarding patient outcomes to be treatment. Therefore, poison control centers and other health care providers can share protected health information about the treatment of an individual without a business associate contract."
-Federal Register Vol.65, No. 250: p. 82611 (pdf)