OHI Participates in National Poison Prevention Week
National Poison Prevention Week, March 17-23, is a week dedicated to reminding people about the dangers of unintentional poisonings and how to prevent them as well as providing educational information.
Dr. Theresa Berger, the CEO, of Ocean Health Initiatives, Lakewood, wants everyone to know that that the HRSA-funded (Health Resources and Services Administration) toll-free Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) is NOT only for emergencies involving children. One important reminder is that this is a time to encourage patients and colleagues to program the Poison Help line (800-222-1222) into their phones for convenient access to poison experts.
The Poison Help line is also a valuable resource for healthcare professionals and should be used for non-urgent as well as urgent situations. For example, trained toxicologists, physicians, nurses, and pharmacists at a local poison center can offer continuing medical education and other training on a wide range of topics, including poison management, medication safety, disaster preparedness, and substance abuse. Poison center specialists can talk about emerging hazards.
Poison centers can provide locally relevant information, such as what drugs are most commonly abused in your community or where parents can buy children’s products free from certain toxins.
Despite the lifesaving services poison centers have provided for 60 years, public and professional awareness about the availability of poison control resources and the nationwide Poison Help line is essential.
Interpretation services are available in over 150 languages. For more information about the Poison Help line and the services that poison centers provide, visit www.PoisonHelp.hrsa.gov, available in English and Spanish. To order Poison Help magnets and stickers, visit http://www.ask.hrsa.gov or call 1-888-ASK-HRSA (275-4772), and indicate a bulk order request.
For more information, visit www.ohinj.org. For questions, contact Douglas Clark at 732-363-6655 or promotionsdept@ohinj.org.
About Ocean Health Initiatives : OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood; and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River; and 333 Haywood Road Manahawkin, provides comprehensive preventative and primary care, including pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, and dental health to the area’s uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual’s or family’s ability to pay.
OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information.