FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the Missouri Poison Center – a statewide poison center accredited by the American Association of Poison Control Centers which provides treatment advice, education, and prevention services to Missourians since 1974.
The United States has 55 poison centers each serving a specific region. The Missouri Poison Center at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital is the single accredited poison center designated to serve the state of Missouri.
- Medicines and drugs (i.e. prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, supplements, illegal/recreational, or veterinary)
- Household and personal care products
- Chemicals and pesticides (at home and work)
- Plants (i.e. mushrooms, indoor and outdoor plants)
- Bites and stings (i.e. insects, snakes)
- Gases and fumes
- Food poisoning
- Questions about adverse or unexpected reactions to medicines or products
- Educational materials
- Programs for children and adults
- Displays at health fairs and events
- Trending Topics Alerts
Education for health care providers is available through:
- Classes
- In-services
- Quarterly publication, Poison Alerts newsletter
Contact our education office at 1-866-612-5719 to request a program.
What to Expect When You Call
If you need to call the Missouri Poison Center (MPC) but have never called before, you may be wondering how we handle the calls we receive.
- Patient’s name – this is done to create a confidential medical record of the case.
- Telephone number of you, the caller – this is done to allow the poison center to follow up by telephone to make sure the patient is okay or if the line gets disconnected, we need to be able to call back.
- Age and weight of patient – many substances and poisons affect children differently than adults. This information helps so we can do calculations and evaluate your specific exposure.
- Name of the substance or product – having the exact brand name and/or label information is important. We may ask you to read parts of the label and ingredient information to help us determine the product involved.
- Amount of the substance missing – to help determine the risks.
- Route of the exposure: Was the product swallowed? Inhaled? Did it get on the skin or in the eyes?
- Time of the exposure.
- Current symptoms the patient is experiencing.
- Patient’s current medication and medical history – if any.