poison center, a telephone service with toxicology experts providing emergency treatment advice for all kinds of poisonings 24 hours a day. Poison control centers also provide poison prevention information to the community and education about recognition and treatment of poison exposures for health care providers. By gathering data about the outcomes of poison exposures, they also identify new or unexpected toxic hazards, allowing for product recalls, reformulations, or repackaging. Their staffs include physicians, nurses, and pharmacists with training in toxicology. Poison centers can be reached by calling 1-800-222-1222. Also called poison control center.
