It’s a fact: People are accidentally poisoned every single day. What’s more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 103,000 people actually die each year in the U.S. from these unintentional poisonings. To help raise awareness of the risk of poisoning, the third week of March is observed as National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW), being held March 16 through 22 this year. California Poison Control System (CPCS) urges everyone to think about poison prevention while observing NPPW.
“Many people don’t realize that numerous items we come into daily contact with—from common medications to household products, including virtually all insecticides and pesticides, and even certain plants, to name just a few things—can actually be dangerous poisons,” said Rais Vohra, Medical Director for the Fresno/Madera Division of CPCS. “In fact, most people don’t realize that in large enough quantities even some harmless substances can be poisonous, while small doses of other substances can be toxic.”
CPCS is observing NPPW with a variety of life-saving preventative services to reduce the risk of poisoning.
A highlight is “Close Calls with CPCS” video series in which CPCS poison experts will discuss common poisonings. One topic video will be released daily, Monday to Friday. The videos can be viewed starting Monday, March 17 on the CPCS Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Daily poison text tips will be sent Monday to Friday. To receive these, text TIPS to 20121 for English or PUNTOS to 20121 for Spanish.
Social media posts about NPPW throughout the week for people to share, comment upon, and like. Use #NPPW2025 and tag Cal Poison in your posts @CalPoison (Facebook).
Special resources page on the CPCS website with quick links to a variety of free poison prevention educational tools and materials.
CPCS is also offering free educational materials, including stickers, magnets, and brochures to distribute to large audiences, with free shipping anywhere in California.
Rattlesnake Awareness Day is also being hosted by CPCS and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo to learn how to stay safe and what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake. You can attend the event at the Zoo on March 20 or watch a recording starting March 22 on CPCS’s Facebook page.
Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (number is the same in all states) for questions about poison encounters. Trained pharmacists, nurses and other providers are available to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is free, confidential and interpreters are available. Get weekly tips about safety by texting TIPS to 20121 for English or texting PUNTOS to 20121 for Spanish. Follow CPCS on Facebook and on Twitter @poisoninfo. CPCS is part of the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy and is responsible to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority.
