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Poisoned?
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Poison Control tells you what to do if you swallow, splash, or get stung by something that might be harmful.

Don't guess what you should do. Get accurate answers prepared by poison control experts. This tool will guide you. It's free. It's confidential. Learn more

Help Me with a Possible Poisoning

Call 911 right away if the individual collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened.

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Need help identifying a pill?

Mixed up your meds? Found a loose pill? Worried that your refill looks different? Fortunately, most medications can be identified from the letters and numbers imprinted on the pill.

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Tip of the Day

Many adults swallow their hearing aid batteries. Often, it is because they were mistaken for a pill. Unlike small children, the majority of adults pass these tiny batteries without problems. Sometimes, an x-ray may be required. Store batteries in a safe place – not in your pocket, purse or with your pills.

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Poison and Prevention Information

Batteries Cause Devastating Injuries

Swallowed batteries burn through a child's esophagus in just 2 hours, leading to surgery, months with feeding and breathing tubes, and even death. About the size of a nickel, 20 mm, 3-volt lithium coin cells are the most hazardous as they are big enough to get stuck and burn faster. Secure battery compartments and keep loose batteries away from children.

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E-Cigs and Toddlers: Beware

Electronic cigarettes (e-Cigs) are devices made to look like real cigarettes. They contain a battery, a heater, and liquid nicotine. When heated, the nicotine liquid becomes a vapor, which users inhale. Liquid nicotine products contain flavorings and something to help the product vaporize. Liquid nicotine products are very poisonous if swallowed.

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Carbon Monoxide: What You Need to Know

It's not an intriguing or novel hazard, just the persistent, invisible killer: carbon monoxide. Seriously, you still don't have a carbon monoxide alarm in every sleeping area of your home? Get one! And keep fuel-burning appliances in good repair; don't use grills or gasoline-powered tools indoors, and don't run your car in an attached garage or place a generator close to your home.

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The Poison Post® Free quarterly e-newsletter

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Are Sunscreen Products Safe?

Sunscreens are generally considered safe. The risk of an adverse effect varies depending on which active ingredients are in the product. Sunscreens can sometimes cause skin irritation, rash, and allergic contact dermatitis. Toxicity is low if accidentally swallowed, applied to the eyes, or inhaled. Sunscreen can be applied to children 6 months of age and older. Learn more

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is funded entirely by private contributions. Your donation to our 501(c)(3) charitable organization will help maintain and expand this free service so that others can get life-saving help for poison exposures. Our interactive tool provides expert guidance, preventing needless ER visits. Your gift will touch the lives of many.

Learn the Poison Prevention Jingles

Learn the Poison Help jingle in English or Spanish. Use it to teach the U.S. poison control number 1-800-222-1222! There are 55 poison centers in the U.S. Your call will be routed to the center that serves you, based on your area code and exchange. The jingle is available for download. Play it over and over until it "sticks"!

webPOISONCONTROL Data Dashboard

The webPOISONCONTROL data analysis dashboard is the only free and publicly available online source of national (U.S.), near real-time poison exposure data. Find out more about the dashboard so you can fully explore data summaries and trends of poisonings from common substances like personal care products, cleaning substances, medicines, pesticides, plants, bites and stings, and more.

graph showing top ten exposure substance categories