(Radio Iowa) - Iowa Poison Control Center spokeswoman Janna Day says they handled nearly 24-thousand poisoning cases last year, with calls from all 99 counties.
Day says the Sioux City-based center is offering a new chat feature on its website, Iowa Poison-dot-org, as she says some people prefer texting over a phone call. Without access to the Iowa Poison Control Center, a study found 78 percent of callers report they would have gone directly to a hospital emergency room.
By providing immediate expert assessment and follow-up care, Day says the center saves Iowans nearly $16 million in healthcare costs every year. Contacting the hotline is free, confidential, and available around the clock at 1-800-222-1222.