You've Got Questions About Food Safety, We've Got Answers



The recent spate of egg recalls is another reminder that food occasionally can pose a risk. If you have questions about salmonella, listeria or any danger that could be posed by food, call your local poison center at 1 (800) 222-1222. Our phones are answered by medically trained specialists who know how to treat anything that could be bad for you. Don't ask, be sure. Calls are free and confidential!



As Students Return to School, Be Aware of Risks Posed by Energy Drinks



New! Students across the country are returning to school, and in some cases, that means they are relying on energy drinks to help get them through late-night study session or tough sports practices. But doctors say energy drinks, which contain more caffeine than a cup of coffee, pose a health risk. No homework, they say, warrants taking a substance that can cause vomiting. More.





Poison Centers Report Calls about Synthetic Marijuana Products

Update: Doctors and clinicians at U.S. poison centers say that a synthetic version of marijuana that is frequently sold as incense or potpourri has spurred symptoms including a fast heart rate, confusion and nausea. To read more about it click here.

Gulf Oil Spill

 

Poison centers in the Gulf region are taking health-related calls about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The AAPCC is tracking the number of calls U.S. poison centers are receiving and updating the tally daily.

Click here for the latest about the number of calls U.S. poison centers are taking about the spill, as well as for information about how poison centers are responding to the spill. For a release on Gulf region poison centers' efforts to respond to the spill, click here.

Why Should You Support Your Poison Center? A Few Good Reasons

States across the nation are trying to balance their budgets by cutting programs. Here's why they shouldn't cut funding for poison centers. Read more about budget cuts here. Click here to share your story about your poison center experience! 

Contaminated Cocaine

Toxicologists across the country are sounding the alarm about a contaminant increasingly found in cocaine that is impairing cocaine users’ immune systems, subjecting them to various infections and, in some cases, causing death. More.