The Poison Control Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is here to help keep our community safe from the dangers of poisoning. Our team serves nine million people, including Eastern Pennsylvania and the state of Delaware. We are excited that you have decided to learn the basics of poisoning prevention!

Q & A 

What is a poison? 
Anything can be a poison if used in the wrong way, by the wrong person, or in the wrong amount! If you aren’t sure if something is a poison, call us anyway. 

What should you do if you think someone may have been exposed to something poisonous? 
Call the Poison Control Center at CHOP at 1-800-222-1222. We are here to answer all your questions about poisons. No question is too small. 

What are the hours of the Poison Control Center? 
The Poison Control Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year-even on holidays!

Is it free to call the Poison Control Center? 
Yes! It is always free to call our team. No one is ever sent a bill. Not only are we free of cost, we are also judgement-free. Don’t be afraid to call us. 

I do not speak English; do you have interpreters? 
Yes, the Poison Control Center uses a team of interpreters who support the line 24 hours a day. 

What are some of the reasons you should call the Poison Control Center? 
You can call the Poison Control Center for a variety of reasons. Reasons include: 

• Not feeling good after using a medicine or household cleaner
• Exposure to a poisonous plant
• A bug bite or a bee sting
• You swallowed a medication that was supposed to go in your eye
• Questions about poisoning prevention 

If you have a doubt or question about anything, just call! When you call the Poison Control Center, we will ask you a series of questions. Here's what we'll need to know so we can help.

What can I do to help prevent poisonings?
There are several things you can do to prevent or reduce the harm of poisonings. 

• Learn the common ways that poisonings happen.
• Learn how to both safely store and use medicines and chemicals.
• Know when to call the Poison Control Center (If you have any questions about poisonings or how to prevent them, you can always call!) 

If you are interested in free poisoning prevention materials for your community, please provide your name, organization name, and email address below. Our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible with options. 

Please contact us at poisonconroladmin@chop.edu, or visit our Poison Control Center website.