Fletcher Allen, a Vermont university hospital and medical center, serves all of
Vermont and the northern New York region. Located in Burlington, Fletcher Allen is a regional, academic healthcare center and teaching hospital in alliance with the University of Vermont.
Northern New England Poison Center
What to do if someone is poisoned:
- CALL THE NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND POISON CENTER TOLL- FREE: 1-800-222-1222
- Learn about first aid for poisonings.
- Person collapsed or stopped breathing? Call 911 or your local emergency number right away
What is a poison?
A poison is any substance that can make you sick or cause harmful effects in the body. Poisons can also kill you. Poisonings can happen to people of all ages. Even though the Northern New England Poison Center (NNEPC) http://www.nnepc.org/ receives more calls concerning children less than 6 years; however, older adults tend to have more serious health effects or deaths due to poisonings.
What are common poisons?
Most poisonings are the result of the ingestion (swallowing) of a poisonous substance. Most children under 6 years of age ingest medicines and other substances while exploring and imitating behaviors of older children and adults. Medications are the number one cause of unintentional poisonings in all age groups reported to the NNEPC. The NNEPC also treats ocular (exposures in the eye), dermal (exposures on the skin), inhalations (breathing a poison), and insect, snake, spider and animal bites.
Who gets poisoned?
Nearly half of reported Vermont poisonings involve children under the age of six. Exposures for teens account for nearly a quarter of the Vermont poisonings. Few people realize that adults get poisoned too. Over 11% of Vermont poisonings occur in 40 years and older.
Pets get poisoned, too. Like children, dogs and cats are curious. They have the natural instinct to lick and chew. Many things that are not poisonous to humans can be harmful or fatal to animals.
Educational Programs
OutreachVermont has an Outreach Educator for poison prevention and poison information. The educator can provide site visits for lectures in poison prevention and education. Call: 802-847-2393.
What is the NNEPC phone number?
The NNEPC is available using a nationwide toll-free number, 1-800-222-1222. The NNEPC provides services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY and interpretation services are immediately available. Services are free and confidential. Specially trained nurses and pharmacists handle Poison Center calls.
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Northern New England Poison Center |
More information is available here or through the Northern New England Poison Center.
Poison Facts:
- In 2004, poisoning was second only to motor vehicle crashes as the cause of death from unintentional injury in the United States.
- Nearly all United States poisoning deaths are attributed to drugs and most of these are related to prescription abuse or illegal drugs.
- 8,457 exposures for Vermont were reported in 2007.
- Approximately 81% of all Vermont calls to the Northern New England Poison Center in 2007 were treated at home through telephone management provided by trained Specialists in Poison Information.
- 45% of all Vermont poisonings in 2007 involve children under or equal to the age of 5.
- 75% of Vermont exposures to the NNEPC in 2007 were from own residence and 81% were managed on site at home or non-health care facility.
- Medicines account for 36% of all Vermont poisoning exposures to the NNECP in 2007.
- Most poisonings are unintentional -- They can be prevented.
