KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
TOPEKA – Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a proclamation to kick off National Poison Prevention Week, which takes place March 15-21. The Poison Center at the University of Kansas Health System and Safe Kids Kansas want to remind Kansans that when the unexpected happens, Poison Help is here for you 24/7 with fast, free treatment advice by calling Poison Help (1-800-222-1222).
Whether it’s a question or an emergency, Poison Help can provide life-saving information when people need it most. Calling a Poison Center provides immediate, accurate information - far more reliable than searching online. Each year, an estimated 90% of poisonings occur in the home, and nearly 90% of callers who reach out from a non‑healthcare setting get the help they need right where they are - saving both time and money.
Not everyone realizes that Poison Centers are for everyone. While poison centers receive frequent calls about children and teens, the calls about adults and older adults tend to be more serious. In 2025, more than 60 percent of calls to the Kansas Poison Center involved medications or pharmaceuticals. Other frequently reported exposures included household chemicals, plants and mushrooms, pesticides, animal bites and stings, carbon monoxide and a wide range of other non-pharmaceutical substances.
“One of the most important things you can do is to program the Poison Help number, 1-800-222-1222, in your phone and post it visibly in your home,” said Stefanie Baines, Education Coordinator for the Kansas Poison Center. “This way, you are prepared in the event of a poisoning emergency or if you simply have questions.”
Here are the ways Poison Centers save time, worry, lives and money:
Time - When seconds count, calling a poison center is faster and more accurate than a confusing internet search.
Worry - Calls to the Poison Help Line are answered by specially trained nurses, pharmacists and physicians. Support is available in over 150 languages. Healthcare professionals turn to us for help every day.
Lives - Whether you have a question or an emergency, Poison Centers are there with life-saving information when you need it the most.
Money - All calls are free. Nearly 70 percent of people who call get the help they need right where they are – avoiding unnecessary trips to the doctor or hospital.
“Children are naturally curious and can get into everything. That’s why you can ask Poison Centers anything,” said Cherie Sage, State Coordinator for Safe Kids Kansas. “When you need it, Poison Help is here for you 24/7. No judgment – just fast, free, confidential and expert advice.”
If you think someone has been poisoned, call 1-800-222-1222 right away. Fast and free expert help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For more information about preventing accidental poisoning visit Kansas Poison Center and Safe Kids Kansas Poison Prevention.