OKLAHOMA CITY –
Oklahoma is recognizing Poison Prevention and Awareness Week, highlighting the importance of safety at home and access to life-saving resources.
Gov. Kevin Stitt has proclaimed March 15 through 21 as Oklahoma Poison Prevention and Awareness Week, as a reminder that most poisonings happen at home and many are preventable.
According to the Oklahoma Poison Center, thousands of exposure cases occur each year. In 2025 alone, the center managed more than 31,000 human exposure cases and handled over 70,000 calls from families and healthcare providers across the state.
Nationwide, poison centers save an estimated $3.1 billion annually by helping reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and ensuring patients receive faster, more accurate treatment.
“It’s contrary to how many people think,” said Kristie Edelen, Managing Director of the Oklahoma Poison Center. “They think, well if I call the poison center, they’re just going to send me to the emergency room, and that’s actually not the case. If we can manage you there at home, we’re going to try to do so, and we’re really successful at that, in that 93 percent of our home calls we actually manage at home.”
Officials emphasize that the Poison Center hotline is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week not just for emergencies, but also for everyday questions about medications, household products, or potential exposures.
The number to call is 1-800-222-1222.
In addition to poison exposures, the center also responds to calls involving snake and spider bites, reporting roughly 350 cases each year.
