October 23, 2026

When your child gets into a medicine, household cleaner, plant, or another potentially harmful substance, it can be scary.

Your first thought may be:

Do we need to go to the emergency room?

You do not have to make that decision alone.

The Iowa Poison Control Center is available 24/7 at 1-800-222-1222. A poison specialist can evaluate what happened and help determine the safest next step.

Why Calling Poison Control First Matters

A recent study published in Clinical Toxicology found that many poison exposures in young children may not require an emergency department visit.

Researchers reviewed 348 poison exposure cases involving children younger than age 6 who had already been evaluated at a healthcare facility without Poison Control being contacted first.

Toxicologists reviewing the cases determined that:

  • 38% definitely did not require emergency department evaluation
  • Another 27% were unlikely to require emergency department evaluation

That means nearly 2 in 3 cases reviewed may not have required an emergency department visit.

This does not mean parents should decide on their own that an exposure is safe.

Instead, the study reinforces the value of calling Poison Control first. A poison specialist can evaluate the specific exposure and help determine what level of care is appropriate.

Before you make the trip, make the call.

What Happens When You Call Poison Control?

Calling the Iowa Poison Control Center is simple.

A poison specialist will ask questions about:

  • Your child’s age and weight
  • What substance was involved
  • How much may have been swallowed, touched, or inhaled
  • When the exposure happened
  • Whether your child has symptoms
  • Any relevant medical history

If you still have the medicine bottle, product package, or label, keep it nearby while you call.

Using that information, the poison specialist can help you understand what to do next.

Depending on the situation, your child may be able to stay home with monitoring, may need to contact a healthcare provider or may need emergency evaluation.

When Should I Call the Iowa Poison Control Center?

Call the Iowa Poison Control Center whenever you think your child may have:

  • Swallowed medicine or taken too much medicine
  • Eaten a vitamin or supplement
  • Gotten into a household cleaner
  • Swallowed a cosmetic or personal care product
  • Eaten part of an unknown plant, berry or mushroom
  • Swallowed or been exposed to a chemical
  • Gotten something potentially harmful in their eyes
  • Breathed in fumes or another potentially toxic substance

You can also call simply because you are unsure whether something is dangerous.

You do not need to know for certain that a poisoning occurred.

What If My Child Swallows Medicine?

If your child may have swallowed medicine:

  1. Remove any remaining medicine from their hands or mouth.
  2. Keep the medicine bottle or package nearby.
  3. Call the Iowa Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
  4. Do not make your child vomit unless a poison specialist tells you to do so.
  5. Call 911 if your child is unconscious, having trouble breathing or having a seizure.

For more information, read What to Do If Your Child Swallows Medicine, Including Gummies.

What If My Child Eats a Plant, Berry or Mushroom?

Plants and mushrooms can be difficult to evaluate because toxicity varies by species.

If your child eats part of an unknown plant, berry or mushroom, call the Iowa Poison Control Center right away.

If possible, keep a sample or take clear photos to help with identification.

You can also learn more from IPCC’s resources on plant poisoning prevention and wild mushroom safety.

Should I Wait for Symptoms?

No.

Some poison exposures do not cause symptoms right away.

If you think your child may have swallowed, touched, inhaled, or otherwise been exposed to something potentially harmful, call the Iowa Poison Control Center as soon as possible.

Early guidance can help you understand what to do next.

Is Calling the Iowa Poison Control Center Free?

Yes.

Calling the Iowa Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 is free and confidential.

Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

You can call even if you are not sure whether the situation is serious.

When Should I Call 911?

Call 911 immediately if your child:

  • Is unconscious or cannot be awakened
  • Is having trouble breathing
  • Is having a seizure
  • Is experiencing another life-threatening emergency

For other suspected poison exposures, call the Iowa Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance.

Help Prevent Poison Exposures at Home

A few simple steps can reduce the risk of accidental poisoning:

  • Keep medicines, vitamins, and supplements locked up and out of reach
  • Store household cleaners and chemicals where children cannot access them
  • Keep products in their original labeled containers
  • Never call medicine “candy”
  • Keep purses, backpacks, and visitor bags containing medicine away from children
  • Teach children not to eat unknown plants, berries or mushrooms
  • Save 1-800-222-1222 in your phone before you need it

For more prevention tips, visit IPCC’s Poison Prevention for Children and Poison Prevention for a Safe Home resources.

Before You Make the Trip, Make the Call

A possible poisoning can be frightening, especially when it involves your child.

But you do not have to figure out what to do next by yourself.

The Iowa Poison Control Center is available 24/7 to answer questions, evaluate exposures and help determine the safest next step.

Think your child may have been exposed to a poison?

Call 1-800-222-1222

Free. Confidential. Available 24/7.

If someone is unconscious, having trouble breathing, having a seizure or experiencing another life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Source

McLoughlin LP, Greller HA, Parris MA, et al. Assessing unnecessary emergency department visits for poison exposures in pediatric patients less than six years old. Clinical Toxicology. 2026;64(8):678-684.

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