Injury Prevention Home

Poison Help:

Poison Control Hotline: 1-800-222-1222 

Please use the Poison Center hotline for poisoning emergencies only

Request Poison Materials in Alaska

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 Facts:

2021 TOP 3 POISONINGS in ALASKA

Children under 6 years:

  • Cosmetics/Personal Care Products
  • Cleaning Supplies (Household)
  • Analgesics (pain killers)

Adults older than 20 years:

  • Analgesics (pain killers)
  • Alcohols
  • Antidepressants

Poisoning Safety Tips

  • Read labels and find out which household products and plants are poisonous. If you’re not sure, 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.
Source: Safe Kids Worldwide

Poison Prevention Program

No one is immune to a poisoning… it can happen to anyone at any time! Poisoning can be prevented. Take this opportunity to learn about the dangers and the steps you can take to protect yourself and your family - learn how to prevent avoidable tragedy.

Alaska partners with the Oregon Poison Control Center to field calls from Alaskans. The Poison Hotline is part of a national poison prevention network. The hotline number connects you directly to specially trained pharmacists and nurses to help manage poison exposure and answer poison related questions. The hotline can help you identify unknown pills and medicines to prevent their improper use. Health care providers can also call the hotline for expertise in handling severe overdoses. It is accessible from anywhere within the United States and operates 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week with free, confidential services.

  • PDFPoison Lookout Checklist
    When you can answer all the questions with a YES, you have made your home a safer place!
  • Poison Centers: About
    Frequently asked questions about poisonings and information about the Poison Center hotline.

Poison Prevention Resources:

What can you do? Be Prepared!

  • Program your phone so you're ready for an emergency: TEXT the word “poison” to 797979 & you will get a text with a link to a vCard to download to your smartphone contacts. It is pre-loaded with POISON CONTROL contact information (1-800-222-1222).
  • SAVE the poison control contact information to your phone. Take the pledge and SHARE it with at least 3 of your contacts, and on Facebook and Twitter Text. Save. Share.
  • Watch this short video to learn why you should program the toll- free Poison Help number (1-800-222-1222) into your phone:

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

Additional Information Resources

Contact

  • Margy Hughes, margy.hughes@alaska.gov,
    907-334-5967

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Webpage updated June 2022