In 2017, the Washington Poison Center (WAPC) managed 62,987 calls, over 172 calls per day.
There were 55,247 human poison exposures, with children six and younger accounting for almost 50% of all poison exposure cases. Human exposures with more serious outcomes (moderate, major, or death) accounted for 5.86 % of all exposures. There were over 7626 information calls. Almost 54% of calls regarding children under 6 were for non-medications.
Almost 79% of poisonings were unintentional; 16 % were intentional, with suicidal intent suspected in 11 % of these cases. Of the 7,823 medication errors, almost 18% were in children under 6 years old and over 26% were in adults 60 years and older.
Please see our Annual Data reports for information on Cannabis, Opioids, Nicotine, and Older Adults.
Top Ten Categories |
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| All Ages | Adults 60 and older | ||
| 1 | Analgesics | 1 | Cardiovascular drugs |
| 2 | Cleaning substances (household) | 2 | Analgesics |
| 3 | Cosmetics/personal care products | 3 | Hormones and hormone antagonists |
| 4 | Antidepressants | 4 | Antidepressants |
| 5 | Sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics | 5 | Sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics |
| 6 | Antihistamines | 6 | Cleaning substances (household) |
| 7 | Cardiovascular drugs | 7 | Cosmetics/personal care products |
| 8 | Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous | 8 | Pesticides |
| 9 | Plants | 9 | Anticonvulsants |
| 10 | Stimulants and street drugs | 10 | Misc. drugs |
| Adults >= 20 years | Teens (13-19 years) | ||
| 1 | Analgesics | 1 | Analgesics |
| 2 | Sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics | 2 | Antidepressants |
| 3 | Antidepressants | 3 | Antihistamines |
| 4 | Cardiovascular drugs | 4 | Sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics |
| 5 | Cleaning substances (household) | 5 | Cold and cough preparations |
| 6 | Ethanol: beverage alcohol | 6 | Stimulants and street drugs |
| 7 | Anticonvulsants | 7 | Cardiovascular drugs |
| 8 | Stimulants and street drugs | 8 | Cleaning substances (household) |
| 9 | Antihistamines | 9 | Anticonvulsants |
| 10 | Hormones and hormone antagonists | 10 | Cosmetics/personal care products |
| Children 6-12 years | Children 0-5 years | ||
| 1 | Analgesics | 1 | Cosmetics/personal care products |
| 2 | Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous | 2 | Cleaning substances (household) |
| 3 | Cosmetics/personal care products | 3 | Analgesics |
| 4 | Antihistamines | 4 | Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous |
| 5 | Plants | 5 | Topical preparations |
| 6 | Stimulants and street drugs | 6 | Vitamins |
| 7 | Vitamins | 7 | Plants |
| 8 | Cleaning substances (household) | 8 | Dietary supplements/ herbals/homeopathic |
| 9 | Cold and cough preparations | 9 | Antihistamines |
| 10 | Dietary supplements/ herbals/homeopathic | 10 | Pesticides |
Top Ten Substances |
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| All Ages | Adults 60 and older | ||
| 1 | Ibuprofen | 1 | Beta blocker, Alone |
| 2 | Non-Sedating Antihistamines | 2 | Calcium antagonist, Alone |
| 3 | Benzodiazepine | 3 | Benzodiazepine |
| 4 | Ethanol: beverage alcohol | 4 | Insulin |
| 5 | Acetaminophen | 5 | Antihyperlipidemic, Alone |
| 6 | Atypical antipsychotic | 6 | Misc. drugs-Other |
| 7 | Melatonin | 7 | Acetaminophen |
| 8 | Household Bleach | 8 | Antibiotics |
| 9 | Antibiotics | 9 | ACE inhibitor, Alone |
| 10 | Diphenhydramine | 10 | Atypical antipsychotic |
| Adults >= 20 years | Teens (13-19 years) | ||
| 1 | Ethanol: beverage alcohol | 1 | Ibuprofen |
| 2 | Benzodiazepine | 2 | Acetaminophen |
| 3 | Atypical antipsychotic | 3 | Non-Sedating Antihistamines |
| 4 | Acetaminophen | 4 | Sertraline |
| 5 | Beta blocker, Alone | 5 | Atypical antipsychotic |
| 6 | Non-Sedating Antihistamines | 6 | Fluoxetine |
| 7 | Household Bleach | 7 | Benzodiazepine |
| 8 | Ibuprofen | 8 | Diphenhydramine |
| 9 | Trazodone | 9 | Ethanol: beverage alcohol |
| 10 | Gabapentin | 10 | Trazodone |
| Children 6-12 years | Children 0-5 years | ||
| 1 | Non-Sedating Antihistamines | 1 | Ibuprofen |
| 2 | Ibuprofen | 2 | Melatonin |
| 3 | Glow product | 3 | Acetaminophen |
| 4 | Melatonin | 4 | Diaper care/rash product |
| 5 | Unknown Non-Drug Substance | 5 | Non-Sedating Antihistamines |
| 6 | Methylphenidate | 6 | Cream/lotion/make-up |
| 7 | Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous | 7 | Personal care products |
| 8 | Vitamins- No iron, no fluoride | 8 | Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous |
| 9 | Plants | 9 | Toothpaste with fluoride |
| 10 | Diphenhydramine | 10 | Desiccant |