Poison Control Center
Poison Control Center
A Poison Control Center (pronounced: poy-zuhn kuh n-trohl sen-ter) is a specialized medical facility that provides immediate, free, and expert treatment advice and assistance over the telephone in case of exposure to poisonous or hazardous substances.
Etymology
The term "Poison Control Center" is derived from the English words "poison" (from the Latin potionem meaning "drink" or "draught"), "control" (from the Middle French contreroller meaning "to check or restrain"), and "center" (from the Latin centrum meaning "middle point").
Related Terms
- Toxicology: The study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms.
- Antidote: A substance that can counteract a form of poisoning.
- Toxin: A poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms.
- Hazardous Substance: Any substance or compound that has the capability of producing adverse effects on the health and safety of humans.
- Emergency Medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of unforeseen illness or injury.
Function
A Poison Control Center provides information about the prevention and treatment of poison exposures. They also provide information about the potential toxicity of drugs, household products, plants, chemicals, venomous creatures, and other substances.
Contacting a Poison Control Center
In the United States, the Poison Control Center can be reached by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline at 1-800-222-1222, which routes the call to the appropriate center.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Poison Control Center
- Wikipedia's article - Poison Control Center
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