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Nationwide 2,334,004 human exposures were reported to poison centers
Of these 69.6 % were managed over the telephone and did not need to go to a health care facility
Almost 47 % of human exposures were followed-up by poison center staff
3.4% of exposure calls to a US poison center were regarding a pet
Calls about children under the age of six made up over 49 % of all exposures

59,708 human exposures were reported to WAPC
Of these 91.6 % were managed over the telephone and did not need to go to a health care facility
Over 26 % of human exposures were followed-up by poison center staff
1.2% of exposure calls to a WAPC were regarding a pet
Calls about children under the age of six made up almost 52 % of all exposures

Nationwide 2,479,200 human exposures were reported to poison centers
Of these 72.9% were managed over the telephone and did not need to go to a health care facility
Almost 45% of human exposures were followed-up by poison center staff
Over 130,000 pet owners called a poison center about their animals
Calls about children under the age of six made up about 52% of all cases

Human exposures reported to WAPC: 67,714
Of these, over 90% were managed over the telephone and did not need to go to a health care facility
Almost 30% of human exposures were followed-up by WAPC staff
Over 8,700 pet owners called WAPC about their animal friends (note: there is a $45 fee for animal calls)
Over 53 % of all case calls were about children under the age of six

Poisoning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death
Poisoning was the number two cause of unintentional hospitalizations
There were 5,241 nonfatal hospitalizations due to poisoning—2,506 were unintentional
Just over 531 seniors over 65-years-old were hospitalized for a nonfatal poisoning

2,438,644 human exposures were report to poison centers nationwide, of these about 90% occurred at home.
Almost 45% of human exposures were followed-up by poison center staff.
Over 135,000 pet owners called a poison center about their animal.
Calls about children under the age of six made up just half of all cases (6,428,251).

The WAPC opened 92,230 charts almost 2,000 more cases than the previous year.
Over 73% of calls were human exposures and 7% were about animals.
17,557 callers contacted the WAPC for information – preventing a poisoning.
Healthcare providers, including hospitals, first responders and veterinarians accounted for almost 15,000 calls.
Almost 40% (35,307) of exposure calls were children under the age of six, of those 17.5% were poisoned by medications.
Over 9% (3,264) of children under the age of six were poisoned outside of their home.
The older adult population continues to be at risk for poisonings making up over 2% (2,572) of the total exposure calls received by the WAPC – over 500 more calls than the previous year.
The top five substances exposure calls:
1. Ibuprofen
2. Diaper care/rash product
3. Acetaminophen (generic Tylenol
4. Anti-depressants
5. Hypochlorite (chlorine bleach)

According to the Childhood Injury Report between 1999 and 2001 there were 9 deaths, 465 hospitalizations and 3,490 Emergency Department visits of children 0-17 year olds.
In 2003 there were 4,183 nonfatal hospitalizations due to poisonings – 1,756 were unintentional.
Unintentional poisonings is still the 3rd leading cause of hospitalizations overall – 2nd leading cause for infants under age one and seniors over 65 years old.
Just over 400 seniors over 65 years old were hospitalized for a nonfatal poisoning in 2003