Poison Emergencies: When to Call Poison Control, When to Call 911 and What to Do First

Quick answer: call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 if you think someone has been exposed to a poison and they are awake and breathing. The line is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, every day, and it connects you to your local poison center, staffed by experts such as nurses, pharmacists and physicians. Call 911 instead if the person has collapsed, cannot be woken up, has trouble breathing or is having a seizure. Do not make anyone vomit unless an expert tells you to, and have the product container with you when you call.

Poisonings happen in ordinary moments: a toddler finds a laundry detergent packet, an older adult takes a second dose of medicine by mistake, or someone mixes cleaning products in a small bathroom. Most of these exposures happen at home. Many can be handled safely at home with expert guidance, and calling early often avoids an unnecessary trip to the emergency room.

This guide is based on information from America’s Poison Centers, the National Capital Poison Center, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is part of our apartment emergency preparedness guide. It is general information, not medical advice.

Sources: America’s Poison Centers, Poison Help line information and annual data on poison exposures; National Capital Poison Center, webPOISONCONTROL and first aid guidance; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Up and Away medication safety program and poisoning prevention; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, laundry packet and child-resistant packaging guidance (Poison Prevention Packaging Act); FDA, over-the-counter naloxone approval and medicine disposal guidance; DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day; American Academy of Pediatrics policy on syrup of ipecac; ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Checked October 2026.

Poison Help: How It Works

The Poison Help line, 1-800-222-1222, routes calls to one of the poison centers across the United States based on where you are calling from. America’s Poison Centers describes the service this way:

• Free and confidential. You do not need insurance, and the call is not reported to police.
• Available 24/7, including holidays.
• Staffed by specialists, including nurses, pharmacists and physicians trained in toxicology.
• Interpreter services are available in many languages.
• For any exposure, including medicines, household products, plants, mushrooms, bites, stings and chemicals.

You can also call with questions when no emergency is happening, such as whether two medicines can be taken together or whether a houseplant is safe for children. America’s Poison Centers encourages people to save the number in their phones; texting “POISON” to 797979 saves the contact information.

Online help

The National Capital Poison Center offers webPOISONCONTROL, an online tool that gives guidance for some swallowed substances. It is meant for people who are not having serious symptoms. If you are unsure, call instead.

When to Call 911 Instead

Call 911 immediately if the person:

• Has collapsed or is unconscious, or cannot be woken up
• Has trouble breathing or has stopped breathing
• Is having a seizure
• Shows signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat

If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR. Our guide to hands-only CPR and AED basics explains the steps.

What to Do First, by Type of Exposure

The National Capital Poison Center and other poison centers give these first steps. After taking them, call Poison Help.

Swallowed poison

1. Remove anything left in the mouth and have the person spit it out.
2. Do not give anything to eat or drink unless a poison expert tells you to.
3. Do not try to make the person vomit.
4. Have the container ready when you call.

Poison on the skin

1. Remove contaminated clothing and jewelry.
2. Rinse the skin with plenty of running water for about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Call Poison Help for further instructions.

Poison in the eye

1. Rinse the eye with lukewarm running water for about 15 to 20 minutes, holding the eyelid open.
2. Have the person blink during rinsing, and do not rub the eye.
3. Call Poison Help.

Inhaled poison

1. Get the person to fresh air right away, without putting yourself in danger.
2. Open windows and doors if it is safe.
3. Call 911 if the person has trouble breathing or collapses, or call Poison Help for advice.

Carbon monoxide is a special danger because it has no smell or color. If a CO alarm sounds or several people feel sick at once, get everyone out and call 911. Our guide to carbon monoxide alarms covers prevention.

Why You Should Not Induce Vomiting

Older advice told parents to keep syrup of ipecac at home to cause vomiting. The American Academy of Pediatrics reversed that recommendation in 2003, advising that ipecac no longer be used routinely at home. Vomiting can cause more harm, especially with caustic products and petroleum-based liquids, which can burn the throat again on the way up or be inhaled into the lungs. Poison centers today advise against making someone vomit unless an expert specifically recommends it.

Home remedies such as salt water, milk or raw eggs are also not recommended unless a poison expert tells you to give something.

What to Have Ready When You Call

Poison specialists will ask questions to decide what to do. Having the answers ready speeds things up:

Information	Why it matters
Age and approximate weight	Doses and risk depend on size
Name of the product or medicine	Identifies the ingredients
The container or label	Gives exact ingredients and strength
How much was involved	Estimates the dose
When it happened	Affects treatment timing
How the exposure happened	Swallowed, inhaled, skin or eye
Symptoms so far	Shows how serious it is
Health conditions and medications	Affects risk

Many calls end with advice to watch the person at home, often with a follow-up call from the poison center.

Common Household Poisons

For young children

America’s Poison Centers data consistently show that young children account for a large share of exposures reported to poison centers, mostly in the home. Common sources include:

• Medicines, including pain relievers, vitamins and supplements
• Cosmetics and personal care products
• Household cleaning products
• Laundry and dishwasher detergent packets, which the CPSC warns can cause serious injuries when children bite into them
• Button batteries, which can cause internal burns when swallowed and need immediate emergency care
• Magnets, which can cause serious internal injuries if more than one is swallowed
• Nicotine products, including liquid nicotine for e-cigarettes
• Cannabis edibles, which can look like candy
• Plants and mushrooms

For adults

Medication errors are common among adults, such as taking a double dose, taking someone else’s medicine or mixing medicines that interact. Mixing household chemicals is another frequent problem. Combining bleach with ammonia or with acidic cleaners can release toxic gases, so use one product at a time with good ventilation.

Opioid overdose and naloxone

Signs of an opioid overdose include very small pupils, slow or stopped breathing, unresponsiveness and blue or gray lips. Call 911. Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose, and the FDA approved naloxone nasal spray for over-the-counter sale in 2023. Keeping naloxone at home is a reasonable step for any household with opioid medicines.

Poison-Proofing a Small Apartment

Small spaces make storage harder, but CDC and CPSC guidance adapts well:

• Store medicines up high and out of sight, as the CDC’s Up and Away program recommends, ideally in a locked box.
• Keep products in their original containers, never in food or drink containers.
• Use child-resistant packaging, but remember it is child-resistant, not childproof. The Poison Prevention Packaging Act requires child-resistant packaging for many medicines and household chemicals.
• Close caps right after use, even if you will use the product again in a minute.
• Lock up cleaning supplies, or store them high, not under the sink.
• Keep detergent packets sealed and out of children’s reach and sight.
• Store button batteries and devices that use them securely.
• Do not call medicine “candy.”
• Check guests’ bags and purses, which may contain medicines.

Dispose of old medicines safely

Unused medicines in a crowded apartment are a risk. The DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, held twice a year, and year-round pharmacy kiosks accept unused medicines. The FDA also publishes guidance on disposing of medicines at home when no take-back option is available, including a list of medicines recommended for flushing.

Medication Safety for Older Adults

Older adults often take several prescriptions along with over-the-counter medicines and supplements, which raises the chance of mix-ups and interactions. Poison centers regularly field calls about double doses and wrong medicines. Steps that help:

• Use a weekly pill organizer filled at a set time each week.
• Keep an up-to-date medication list with names, doses and times, and bring it to every appointment.
• Use one pharmacy when possible, so the pharmacist can check for interactions.
• Turn on the lights and wear glasses when taking medicines, since many pills look alike.
• Never take medicine prescribed for someone else.
• Ask before adding supplements, which can interact with prescriptions.

If a dose is missed or doubled, call Poison Help or a pharmacist for advice instead of guessing.

Look-Alike Dangers

Many poisonings happen because a product looks like food or drink. Brightly colored detergent packets can resemble candy, some cleaning sprays look like sports drinks, and cannabis edibles are often sold as gummies, cookies or chocolates. Pills can be mistaken for candy by young children.

Keeping hazardous products in original containers, storing them separately from food and keeping edibles locked away all reduce confusion. Teaching older children never to eat or drink anything without asking an adult adds another layer of protection.

Bites, Stings and Wild Plants

Poison centers also handle exposures from outside the home. Snake bites, spider bites, scorpion stings, jellyfish stings and contact with poisonous plants such as poison ivy can all be reported to Poison Help. Wild mushrooms are a particular concern, since toxic species can be hard to tell apart from edible ones. Never eat wild mushrooms unless an expert has identified them, and call Poison Help right away if someone eats one.

For a snake bite, keep the person calm and still, remove rings and tight items near the bite and call 911. Do not cut the wound, try to suck out venom or apply ice.

Pets and Poisons

Pets are often poisoned by the same household products, along with foods such as chocolate, grapes and products containing xylitol. For animal poison emergencies, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is available at (888) 426-4435, and a consultation fee may apply. Call your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital as well.

Add Poison Prep to Your Kit

Keep these in your home emergency supplies:

• The Poison Help number, written on the fridge and saved in every phone
• A list of household medicines with doses for each person
• Naloxone, if anyone in the home uses opioids
• Disposable gloves
• A small flashlight for checking mouths and labels

Our guide to a first aid kit for a small apartment lists the rest of the basics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Poison Control free?

Yes. The Poison Help line, 1-800-222-1222, is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, every day.

Should I call 911 or Poison Control?

Call 911 if the person collapsed, cannot be woken, has trouble breathing or is having a seizure. Otherwise, call Poison Help for expert advice.

Should I make someone vomit after swallowing poison?

No. Do not induce vomiting unless a poison expert tells you to. The AAP stopped recommending home use of syrup of ipecac in 2003.

Can I call Poison Control if I am not sure it is an emergency?

Yes. Poison specialists answer questions about possible exposures, medicine mix-ups and product safety at any time.

What number do I call if my pet is poisoned?

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, where a fee may apply, or your veterinarian.

The Bottom Line

Save 1-800-222-1222 in your phone today. Call it for any possible poisoning when the person is awake and breathing, call 911 for collapse, breathing trouble or seizures, skip home remedies and vomiting, and store medicines and chemicals up high, locked and in their original containers.