Please use the Poison Center hotline for poisoning emergencies only.
Drug Identification:
Call your local pharmacy.
Animal Poisoning:
Call your veterinarian or the American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA):
1-888-426-4435.
Poison Prevention
No one is immune to a poisoning! Poisoning to you or a loved one can be prevented. Take this time to learn the dangers and steps to protect your family.
What's New?
March 18-24, 2012 is...
Poison Prevention Week!
50 Years of Poisoning Prevention
Since 1962, the President of the United States has proclaimed the third week of March as National Poison Prevention Week to raise awareness about the dangers of poisoning.
National Poison Prevention press release>
Poison Center Help FREE iPhone App!
Connects users to their local poison center and offers tips on how to prevent a poisoning.
Visit the CDC's new site: Up and Away and Out of Sight!
More than 60,000 young children end up in emergency rooms every year because they got into medicines while their parent or caregiver was not looking. Keep medicines Up and Away and Out of Sight! Learn how…
Download the FREE iphone app “Choose Your Poison” available in both English and Spanish!
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
- Alaska Epidemiology - Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) Resources
- Before you go clamming...
- First Aid for PSP
Poison Prevention
Poisoning does not discriminate… it can happen to anyone at anytime! Take this opportunity to learn about what you can do to prevent a poisoning to you or a loved one.
- Poison Lookout Checklist
When you can answer all the questions with a YES, you have made your home a safer place! - Poison Centers: Making The Right Call
Frequently asked questions about poisonings and information about the Poison Center hotline.
In 2009 the Alaska Poison Control System reported that 9,099 calls were made to the Oregon Poison Center by Alaskans. 7,311 of those calls were about human exposures to a poison and more than half of those calls were on behalf of a child 5 years of age or younger.
Alaska’s Top 3 Poisonings in 2011
(Children younger than 6 years):
Rank |
Exposure |
1 |
Cosmetics/Personal Care Products |
2 |
Analgesics (Painkiller) |
3 |
Cleaning Substances (Household) |
(APCS)
[top]
Poison Prevention and Control
- Poison Press: Poison Center Newsletter
- Check out the “Poison Is Bad!” video!
- Safety Tips
- Alaska COMMS Database
- Poison Prevention in Alaska
- Strategies and Activities
- Carbon Monoxide Information
- Order Poison Prevention Materials
- Contact Us
Poisoning Safety Tips
- Read labels and find out which household products or plants are poisonous. If you are not sure about something, keep it where children can't reach it.
- Lock up poisons and medicines out of sight and reach of children.
- Don't take medicine in front of children. They might try to copy you.
- Never leave potentially poisonous household products unattended while you are using them.
- Throw away old medicines and cleaning products.
Alaska COMMS Database
The Alaska Community Medical Resource Database is no longer available. For information about Alaska Community Medical Resources, please visit the Alaska COMMS website:
Please update your bookmarks.
Poison Prevention in Alaska
The Poison Prevention program works to reduce child deaths and injuries caused by poisonings by educating parents, childcare providers, and healthcare professionals about Alaska-specific poisonings and methods of treatment.
Unintentional poisoning is the second leading cause of injury hospitalizations for Alaskan children age 0-4. Medications, lamp oil, petroleum products, cosmetics/perfume, household products/cleaners, carbon monoxide, botulism, and plant exposures are common means of poisonings to Alaska's children.
Children are frequently confused about what a poison is; they may know that poisons are 'bad', but do not realize that something sweet-smelling or tasting can be poison too. Many poisonings occur when children are hungry or stressed, or when there is a change in routine such as a holiday.
Strategies and Activities
Alaska-specific brochures, stickers and magnets with the national poison center hotline number, and poison control posters have been distributed throughout the state. A video on poison prevention (produced in 2002) is available through the ISAP office.
- Fact vs Fiction About Poisoning and Poison Safety
- 2007 Alaska Poison Prevention and Control Fact Sheet
- 2006 Alaska Poison Prevention and Control Fact Sheet
- Alaska Poison Control System (powerpoint)
- Elder Safety Poster
- National Poison Control System (word document)
- Alaska Poison Brochure
- 2005 Alaska Poison System Report
- Alaska Poison Control System 5-Year Overview Report
- Poison Safety Handout
- Plant Poison Brochure
- Poison Control in Alaska (word document)
Summer is here and so are the mosquitos! Click on the icon below for a fact sheet about DEET:
Carbon Monoxide Information
- Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- National Safety Council's Air Quality Program
- Information Site on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Cost: Stickers and brochures are available at no cost from ISAP.
Additional Information Resources
- American Association of Poison Control Centers
- CDC - Up and Away and Out of Sight
- Drug Information Online — Drugs.com
- Oregon Poison Center
Contact
- Maria Bailey,
Injury Surveillance and Prevention
(907) 465-4170

Follow Alaska_DHSS on Twitter
Connect with us on Facebook