The Banner Poison Control Center serves the majority of Arizona's population, about 4 million people, by providing rapid access to poison information, first aid and treatment recommendations. The hotline, available to the public and medical professionals, also fields calls about adverse drug effects and occupational chemical exposure.
The Banner Poison Control Center offers a free 24-hour emergency hotline, staffed by nurses specifically trained in toxicology and who are supported by toxicologists. In 2007, the hotline received a record number of patient calls -- 105,000. About 23,000 of those calls involved poison exposures in children under the age of 12.
Without the Banner Poison Control Center hotline, most of those callers would have had to seek care in busy hospital emergency departments. It is estimated that the hotline helps approximately 29,000 callers avoid the emergency room, saving the community $22.5 million in emergency treatment costs.
The Banner Poison Control Center promotes the health and safety of the community by:
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Serving as the primary resource for the citizens and health professionals of Maricopa County and Arizona regarding accidental and intentional poisonings, snake bites and the toxicity or adverse effects of medications and chemicals.
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Educating the public and health professionals in poison prevention and treatment.
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Assessing and treating accidental and intentional poisonings by telephone triage, consultation and follow-up.
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Being integrated into the 911 system and central dispatch for most Valley fire departments for assessment and management of poisoning emergencies. Thousands of 911 callers are managed at home, preventing dispatch of emergency services.
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Responding to calls from Fire Department Hazardous Materials teams, occupational health clinics, transportation and law enforcement personnel as well as employers/employees in the workplace in event of chemical or biological accidents and exposures.
The Banner Poison Control Center is also affiliated with the Medical Toxicology Fellowship program at
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, in which physicians receive training in toxicology. The Good Samaritan program is the only medical toxicology graduate medical education program in Arizona that is currently training physicians.
Established in 1979, the Banner Poison Control Center has continuously served the citizens of Maricopa County and surrounding counties for almost 30 years. It is supported by Banner Health, the state of Arizona, United Way and charitable donations.
For ordering educational materials: e-mail
(This e-mail is not for medical advice. For medical advice, please call 24-hour phone: 1-800-222-1222)