A poison is anything that can make you sick or kill you if you eat it, drink it, breath it in, get it on your skin or get it in your eyes.
If someone has been potentially exposed to a poison and is awake and alert, you should call the NYC Poison Center immediately, even if there are no symptoms of poisoning. For ingested poisons, do not try to make the person throw up. If the person is unconscious, convulsing, having seizures or having trouble breathing, call 911.
Ingestion (swallowing) is the most common way that poisonings happen. Poisonings can also happen through inhalation, dermal (on the skin contact), or ocular (in the eyes). Learn more about common poisons and the City’s resources to help you be safe:
Community-based organizations (or individuals) can request free multilingual poison prevention and medicine safety materials or workshops through our Community Education Training Programs.
Medical professionals can also learn more about medical toxicology through the Visiting Resident Toxicology Rotation at the NYC Poison Center or through joining our monthly Consultants' Conference and Grand Rounds presentations.
The NYC Poison Center is available 24/7 and has translation services in more than 150 languages. All calls are free and confidential. Registered pharmacists and nurses certified in poison information can provide treatment advice and information about potential poisons and medicine safety. When you call the center, they will ask you:
To contact the NYC Poison Center, call 212-POISONS (212-764-7667).
Every year in March, the New York City Poison Center and the NYU Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine host an interactive toxicology conference. This clinical course, instructed by the dynamic faculty from the NYC PCC and the NYU Department of Emergency Medicine, is for health care professionals who have an interest in the exciting world of medical toxicology. The conference offers participants the opportunity to engage in challenging interactive toxicology scenarios via small group workshops.