Jacksonville, Fla. – The Florida Poison Information Center at Shands Jacksonville announced today that it is joining with 64 other poison centers in a campaign to raise awareness about 1-800-222-1222, a new life-saving national hotline for poison emergency treatment and advice.
“This new national hotline is an invaluable new resource for families throughout Florida. It will help ensure that no matter where they are, they will always know the number for the experts at the closest local poison center. In an emergency when every second counts this information is vitally important and could save a life,” said Jay Schauben, Pharm.D., a University of Florida clinical professor of pharmacy and director of Florida Poison Information Center/Jacksonville. “The Jacksonville Center is pleased to join today with poison centers across the country in launching this important hotline and education campaign. It is our hope that everyone will soon know to call 1-800-222-1222 for poison treatment and prevention.”
The Florida Poison Information Center at Shands Jacksonville is one of three centers in the statewide Florida Poison Information Network. The network, with centers in Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa, has been using a statewide toll-free hotline since 1992.
By calling 1-800-222-1222, Florida residents, and now any resident in the United States, will automatically be connected to specially trained nurses, pharmacists and doctors at the closest local poison facility. The Jacksonville center covers 42 counties in the northern and eastern coastal sections of Florida and also provides service to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The poison experts at the center will immediately respond to poison emergencies and answer poison-related questions about medications, household products and other potentially dangerous substances. The Florida poison center’s current toll-free number (800) 282-3171 will also continue to operate for a few years during the transition to the new hotline number.
When traveling outside of the region, Florida residents will be connected to poison experts at the nearest poison center. By connecting callers to the closest center, the hotline is helping to ensure that callers can always reach health care specialists most familiar with local concerns and the local health care community.
“We strongly encourage everyone to learn this new number so they can easily access it, anytime and anywhere in the United States. ” said Schauben. “This hotline is an important new tool in our continued effort to raise our residents’ awareness about poison dangers and how to prevent poisonings in the first place. We highly encourage local citizens to call and take advantage of this free and confidential service.”
The national campaign to raise awareness about the new toll-free hotline is sponsored by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). The campaign includes radio and print public service announcements, stickers, magnets, brochures and posters with the new hotline number.
Within it’s region, the Florida Poison Information Center/Jacksonville will distribute 1-800-222-1222 promotional materials to local citizens who call the new hotline. In addition, the center will participate in many outreach activities to promote the new toll-free hotline to area residents.
The hotline and public awareness campaign are being conducted in accordance with the Poison Control Center Enhancement and Awareness Act (P.L. 106-174), approved by Congress in February 2000. Funding for the program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration, which work in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC oversees activities related to the toll-free number through a cooperative agreement with AAPCC. The Florida Poison Information Network is funded by the State of Florida Department of Health. The Jacksonville center also receives support from the University of Florida and Shands Jacksonville.