Call 9-1-1 for Poison Emergencies
EMERGENCY MEASURES ORGANIZATION--Call 9-1-1 for Poison Emergencies
Do you know what to do if your child swallows a few tablets of your pain medication or a household cleaner splashes in your eye? Don't wait for symptoms to appear, call 9-1-1 immediately.
A new partnership between the provincial 9-1-1 emergency reporting system and the IWK Regional Poison Centre was announced today, Nov. 18.
Poison centres across North America report that about 80 per cent of poisonings are safely and effectively managed by providing advice over the phone, without the need for costly ambulance transport or a visit to the hospital emergency department. This is a key factor in having the 9-1-1 system handle calls regarding poison-related emergencies. Calls will immediately be transferred to specialists at the poison centre, instead of the past practice of dispatching an ambulance.
"Linking 9-1-1 to the poison centre will enable us to get help to the public faster and more efficiently in the event of a poison- related emergency," said Tim Olive, Minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Act. "Ultimately, this will lead to improved access to emergency services for all Nova Scotians and will ensure efficient use of our emergency health-care resources."
About $510,000 in annual funding will be provided to the poison centre through Nova Scotia's 9-1-1 cost recovery fund. All telephone subscribers in the province pay a small monthly fee that goes directly into this fund, the revenue from which is exclusively used to support and improve 9-1-1 services.
"The linking of these two key public emergency services, sharing jointly developed protocols and communication systems, means that the public will have access to the emergency care and advice they need, when they need it," said Dr. Alex Gillis, interim president, CEO of the IWK Health Centre. "We're confident this move will enhance access to emergency care for all Nova Scotians."
Poison centre staff - nurses, physicians, a pharmacist and a pharmacologist - provide free, confidential poison information and treatment advice 24 hours a day. Callers should be prepared to respond to questions such as the name of the poisonous product, age and weight of the victim, time of poisoning, any symptoms, the amount ingested (if known) and past medical history.
The 9-1-1 system is to be used for emergencies only. Call 9-1-1 when the services of fire, police, ambulance or the poison centre are needed because of a threat to someone's health, safety or property.
For non-emergency, poison-related inquiries or for educational information, call the poison centre's non-emergency information line toll-free at 1-800-565-8161, or 902-470-8161.