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The American Association of Poison Control Centers supports the nation’s 57 poison centers in their efforts to treat and prevent poisoning. Poison centers offer free, private, expert medical advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The poison specialists take calls in more than 150 languages and from people who are hearing impaired. 1-800-222-1222

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American Association of Poison Control Centers Names Executive Director

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) has named Deborah A. Carr as its new executive director, according to AAPCC President Richard Dart, M.D., Ph.D. With more than 30 years of leadership in the voluntary health sector, Carr has held executive positions at both the local affiliate and national levels for several nonprofit health organizations, including the Epilepsy Foundation of America and Easter Seals. Her career achievements include establishing strategic national partnerships with government, industry and private organizations. Carr also has

American Association of Poison Control Centers Names Executive Director

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) has named Deborah A. Carr as its new executive director, according to AAPCC President Richard Dart, M.D., Ph.D. With more than 30 years of leadership in the voluntary health sector, Carr has held executive positions at both the local affiliate and national levels for several nonprofit health organizations, including the Epilepsy Foundation of America and Easter Seals. Her career achievements include establishing strategic national partnerships with government, industry and private organizations. Carr also has

Poison Control Centers Applaud DEA’s Ban of Bath Salts

ALEXANDRIA, VA – America’s 57 poison control centers are applauding the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s recent ban of the chemicals used in synthetic drugs labeled as “bath salts,” according to Dr. Richard Dart, president of the American Association of Poison Control Centers and director of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center. Poison centers first raised the alarm about bath salts in December 2010 after they started receiving calls about people having serious reactions to the chemicals, such as increased blood pressure and heart rate, agitation, hallucinations, extreme

Poison Centers Issue Safety Alert for Portable Generator Use After Hurricane Irene

ALEXANDRIA, VA – America’s poison centers are urging people in the path of Hurricane Irene to take steps to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning related to portable generators, according to Dr. Charles McKay, assistant medical director for the Connecticut Poison Center. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common poison-related cause of hospitalization and death in the wake of hurricanes. It is called a “silent killer” because there are no odors or symptoms that signal a problem. When people use generators improperly – too close to homes, in garages or outside bedroom windows – carbon

Poison Centers Say Keep Medicated Patches Away From Children

For More Information, Contact: Loreeta Canton, communications manager; American Association of Poison Control Centers; canton@aapcc.org or 703-894-1863 ALEXANDRIA, VA – Transdermal patches that deliver medicines can pose a danger to children if not handled or disposed of properly, according to medical experts at America’s 57 poison centers. Transdermal patches are adhesive pads placed on the skin that deliver timed-release doses of medicine into the bloodstream. Drugs such as nicotine replacement, nitroglycerin and powerful painkillers like lidocaine and fentanyl are available in

Fireworks Are Poisons, Too

ALEXANDRIA, VA – America’s 57 poison control centers are reminding parents and caregivers that fireworks are poisons, too, according to Rose Ann G. Soloway, clinical toxicologist with the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, D.C. “Every year around the Fourth of July holiday, people are burned or injured by fireworks. However, fireworks are a poisoning hazard, as well,” Soloway said. “If swallowed by children, adults or pets, the chemicals in fireworks can make them sick.” Fireworks contain chemicals such as potassium nitrate, white phosphorus, barium chlorate, and arsenic.

Poison Centers Encourage Safe Food Handling This Memorial Day Weekend

For Immediate Release                                               May 27, 2011                                                              For More Information, Contact: Loreeta Canton, communications manager canton@aapcc.org or 703-894-1863                         Poison Centers Encourage Safe Food Handling This Memorial Day Weekend WASHINGTON, D.C. – The nation’s 57 poison control centers are urging Americans to stay safe this Memorial Day weekend by storing, handling and preparing food carefully, according to Dr. Robert Geller, medical director for the Georgia

American Association of Poison Control Centers Applauds Over-the-Counter Drugmakers for Acetaminophen Concentration Changes

For Immediate Release May 6, 2011Alexandria, Va. – The American Association of Poison Control Centers supports the industry-wide initiative by over-the-counter pharmaceutical manufacturers to standardize the acetaminophen dose in pediatric products. The decision is aimed at preventing acetaminophen dosing errors. “Acetaminophen dosing errors are a rare but potentially very severe adverse event that could lead to liver failure or even death for kids,” said Richard Dart, MD, PhD, president of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. “This decision will lessen the chance

Poison Centers Support Drug Enforcement Administration’s Second Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day April 30

For Immediate Release April 26, 2011Alexandria, Va. – The American Association of Poison Control Centers is proud to announce its support of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s second national prescription drug take-back day. The free event, scheduled for Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time across the country, will give the public a chance to prevent pill abuse and theft by disposing safely of expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs. Medications were the leading cause of poisoning deaths in 2009, according to American Association of Poison Control Centers,

Poison Centers Federal Dollars Cut by Nearly 25 percent in Proposed FY 2011 Continuing Resolution; Damaging Impact to States’ Ability to Help Citizens

For Immediate Release April 13, 2011Alexandria, Va. –U.S. poison centers suffered a nearly 25 percent cut in federal dollars in the proposed 2011 fiscal year continuing resolution agreed upon by House and Senate negotiators and released publicly on Tuesday – a damaging cut, but one far less brutal than originally proposed by the House of Representatives in H.R. 1. The House of Representatives, in H.R. 1, had originally called for a 93 percent reduction in federal funding for America’s poison control system, a move that would have produced disastrous effects on public health. “We’re

American Association of Poison Control Centers Releases iPhone Application in Honor of Poison Prevention Week

For Immediate Release March 24, 2011 Alexandria, Va. – The American Association of Poison Control Centers is proud to announce that it has released its first smartphone app. The free app, now available for iPhones, is available at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/poison-center-help/id426623359?mt=8. You can also access it by going to the AAPCC website at www.aapcc.org or by visiting the iTunes marketplace and searching for “Poison Help.” The free app is part of AAPCC’s commemoration of National Poison Prevention Week, March 20 through 26. The AAPCC is also developing free apps for

American Association of Poison Control Centers Assists with Public Health Response to Radiation Exposures Linked to Japan Earthquake

March 24, 2011 For immediate release Alexandria, Va. –U.S. poison centers, which were at the forefront of public health response to the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic and the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, have agreed to assist the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments with responding to public concerns about radiation and other poison exposures resulting from the March 11 earthquake in Japan and radiation leaks from nuclear plants in that nation. “Poison centers are staffed by medical experts around-the-clock, and both our call centers and our

American Association of Poison Control Centers: Medicines Remain the Leading Cause of Poison Deaths in 2009

Alexandria, Va. - Medications remained the leading cause of poisoning deaths in 2009, with most poisoning fatalities occurring among adults, according to a new report by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. The report, based on data from 2009 calls to U.S. poison centers, found that sedatives/hynotics/ antipsychotics, cardiovascular drugs, opioids and acetaminophen combinations were most frequently associated with poison-related deaths that year. In all, poison centers reported 1,158 poison-related fatalities in 2009. “Poison-related fatalities continue to be a

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