New Poison Hotline

(NAPSA)-A new toll-free hotline which connects callers to nurses, pharmacists and doctors specially trained to handle poison emergencies and provide poison prevention assistance, has been created by The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). This free and confidential service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For the first time, the country's 65 local poison centers are accessible to callers across the United States via a national toll-free number. By calling the hotline, callers are automatically connected to the closest local poison center. Trained poison experts immediately handle incoming calls. If emergency medical treatment is needed, the poison center will call an ambulance and stay on the line until help arrives.
The hotline also serves as an information resource. Experts at poison centers are ready to answer a range of poison prevention questions such as whether or not a plant is poisonous, how to use a pesticide safely or whether certain drugs can be taken together.
Stickers, magnets and brochures featuring the hotline number and the new Poison HELP logo are available by calling the hotline, which is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For tips and information on poison prevention, call 1-800-222-1222 or visit www.1-800-222-1222.info.

A national hotline provides help in poison emergencies, as well as information about poisons.