WASHINGTON POISON CENTER

POISONINGS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE. WASHINGTON POISON CENTER (WAPC) IS HERE TO HELP. WAPC IS A STATEWIDE, 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PREVENTING AND REDUCING HARM FROM POISONINGS AND OVERDOSES. OUR EXPERT STAFF OF PHARMACISTS, NURSES, AND PHYSICIAN TOXICOLOGISTS ARE A RELIABLE AND CONSISTENT RESOURCE FOR TIMELY, RELEVANT, AND LIFE-SAVING INFORMATION FOR ANYONE FROM PARENTS AND SENIORS TO HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND EDUCATORS. WE REMAIN UP-TO-DATE ON EMERGING TRENDS AND CLINICAL GUIDELINES TO MAKE SURE WE ARE OFFERING THE BEST SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND GUIDANCE TO ALL WASHINGTONIANS, WHEN THEY NEED IT. AS ONE OF 53 ACCREDITED POISON CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES, WAPC PROVIDES THREE MAIN SERVICES: A 24/7/365 TELEPHONE HELPLINE, POISON PREVENTION AND HARM REDUCTION EDUCATION, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SUPPORT. OUR POISON HELPLINE (1-800-222-1222) HELPS OVER 60,000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR NAVIGATE QUESTIONS AND CRISES AFTER ACCIDENTAL INGESTIONS, SUBSTANCE USE, INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE, MEDICATION MISTAKES, AND MORE. CALLERS IMMEDIATELY SPEAK WITH A SPECIALLY TRAINED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL, WHO GUIDES THEM THROUGH EVERY STEP UNTIL RESOLUTION. APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER OF WAPC CALLERS ARE FELLOW HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS SEEKING ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TREATING PATIENTS. WAPC IS MORE THAN JUST A TELEPHONE HELPLINE. WE ARE A COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEDICATED TO PREVENTING POISONING THROUGH PUBLIC AND CLINICAL EDUCATION. OUR STAFF TRAVEL TO COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE TO EMPOWER WASHINGTONIANS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS TO MAKE DECISIONS AND ACT BEFORE HARM HAPPENS. WE OFFER: - SEASONAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH ALERTS - COMMUNITY EDUCATION AT HEALTH AND RESOURCE FAIRS - IN-PERSON NALOXONE TRAINING AND DISTRIBUTION - SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION EDUCATION - MEDICATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMING FOR OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS - K-8 CURRICULA FOR SCHOOLS - EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN 20+ LANGUAGES - DATA ON EMERGING TRENDS AND CONCERNS - RESOURCES AND DATA FOR PUBLIC POLICY MAKERS - LECTURES ON BEST PRACTICES IN TREATMENT AND PATIENT CARE - INTERNSHIPS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH STUDENTS - CLINICAL ROTATIONS AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN TRAINING WAPC IS ADDITIONALLY AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SUPPORT. WE OPERATE A YEAR-ROUND AFTER-HOURS ANSWERING SERVICE FOR LOCAL HEALTH JURISDICTIONS, AND WILL ACTIVATE OUR CALL CENTER FOR OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES, AS NEEDED. FOR EXAMPLE, WE TOOK PUBLIC CALLS DURING MULTIPLE DISEASE OUTBREAKS, INCLUDING MEASLES AND COVID-19.