In a true emergency, every second counts—and when it comes to potential poisoning, delaying action can have serious consequences. Whether it’s a child who’s gotten into a cleaning product, an adult who’s misused medication, or a teen exposed to a substance trending online, calling America’s Poison Centers at 1-800-222-1222 could make all the difference.

This free, confidential, 24/7 hotline connects callers to teams of nurses, pharmacists, and physicians trained in toxicology, offering real-time guidance that can help you respond quickly, safely, and effectively—without guessing, Googling, or risking further harm.

Why Harvest Bend Section 1 Residents Need to Know About America’s Poison Centers

Although poisoning emergencies often go unspoken, they’re incredibly common. According to America’s Poison Centers, which represents all 55 poison centers nationwide, calls come in every minute of every day—often involving everyday products or medications found in almost every home.

Just in the past 12 months, poison centers reported:

• 43,282 opioid overdoses
• 9,562 GLP-1 drug exposures (like Ozempic or Wegovy)
• 8,557 cases of pediatric cannabis edible poisoning
• 8,537 exposures to e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine
• 1,702 Delta-8 THC poisonings

Despite these alarming numbers, poison centers help keep millions of people out of hospitals each year simply by giving timely, expert advice.

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When Should You Call Poison Control?

If you think someone has been exposed to a harmful substance—don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Call immediately.

Common reasons Harvest Bend Section 1 residents might need to call include:

• Ingesting cosmetics, personal care items, or cleaning products
• Accidentally taking a pain reliever or prescription medicine

• Taking too much of a sleep aid, mood medication, or pain medicine
• Mistakenly mixing prescriptions
• Ingesting or inhaling cannabis edibles, vapes, or other substances

• Misusing heart medications, anxiety meds, or sleep aids
• Taking multiple prescriptions with dangerous interactions

The Poison Help line also handles questions about exposures to household chemicals, carbon monoxide, plants and mushrooms, bites and stings, and even pesticides. Almost anything can be poisonous if it’s used in the wrong way, in the wrong amount, or by the wrong person.

What Happens When You Call?

When you dial 1-800-222-1222, you’re connected immediately with a licensed medical professional—no waiting room, no hold music, and no cost. They’ll walk you through what happened, assess the risk, and tell you exactly what to do next. In many cases, they can help you avoid a trip to the ER altogether.

Prefer to go online first? You can also visit PoisonHelp.org for guidance, where you can search for the product or medication in question. Keep in mind that the quality of advice depends on how accurately the product is identified—calling is still the most reliable option.

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Pet Poisoning? Different Numbers Apply

While some poison centers may offer basic information about pet poisoning, for the best results contact:

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435
• Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661 (note: both may charge a consultation fee)

Don’t Guess—Just Call

For Harvest Bend Section 1 residents, this number could be the most important one you store in your phone. Emergencies happen fast, and knowing who to call can help protect your loved ones—whether they're toddlers, teens, or aging parents.

• Poison Help Line: 1-800-222-1222
• Online Resource: www.poisonhelp.org
• Available 24/7 | Free & Confidential

Remember: If you think someone has been poisoned, don’t wait. Don’t try to treat it yourself. Call right away.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.