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The Tennessee Poison Center is marking National Poison Prevention Week, observed March 15-21, by highlighting the critical role poison centers play in keeping families safe and reducing costs to the health care system.
Poison prevention is particularly vital for families with young children. Nearly half of all calls to the Tennessee Poison Center each year — 47% — involve a child 5 or younger in a case related to medication or household cleaning product ingestion. In 2024, the center managed 51,862 calls from Tennessee residents, clinics and hospitals. Of those, 68% were handled at home under the guidance of a medically trained poison expert through the Poison Help Hotline (800-222-1222).
A national study conducted by the RAND Corporation and published Jan. 21 found that poison centers across the United States save an estimated $3.1 billion in taxpayer dollars annually by averting medical costs and lost productivity. The report, which drew on data from all 53 U.S. poison centers, also found that poison centers reduce the duration of hospital stays and lower mortality risk. Beyond emergency response, the centers provide biosurveillance and public education to reduce the risk of toxic exposures in communities.
“Our findings demonstrate that the economic and societal value of poison centers is significant,” said David Metz, lead author of the report and a senior analyst at RAND. “Poison centers take strain off an already-burdened emergency health system, while saving lives and money.”
The Tennessee Poison Center serves all 95 Tennessee counties, providing free expert guidance to the state’s 7.13 million residents around the clock, every day of the year. The center’s 2024 annual report and free educational resources are available at tnpoisoncenter.org.
The full RAND impact study can be downloaded at poisoncenters.org/national-impact-study.
The Tennessee Poison Center, based at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is the state’s only poison center and provides free, confidential expert medical advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to the public and health care professionals. For poison emergencies or questions, call the Poison Help Hotline at 800-222-1222.
