It is the ninth largest poison center. It serves an 18 county region of southeastern Michigan. We provide 24 service to the public and health care professionals, answering over 70,000 calls annually. The poison control center serves as the educational center for toxicology-providing one month intensive course in toxicology which is available to medical students, and physicians. Medical students are welcome to take one month electives in medical toxicology as well.
Education is one of our major goals .
It is estimate that 2,000,000 accidental poisonings could be avoided each year through poison prevention tactics. For this reason a two pronged educational system has been established, one targeted at health care professionals and one at the general public. A nurse and public educator are devoted to this project and go out to the 18 county area each year to speak to schools, health fairs, day care centers and hospitals. The poison center serves as the data collection center for most poisonings, providing the most extensive epidemiological data available, compiled in Washington DC and published once yearly. This allows us as a nation to observe trends in poisoning, drug abuse, fatality and allows us to focus poison prevention activities.