Posts Tagged "psa"

California Poison Control Center to Shut Down

Posted by Michelle on Jun 3, 2009 in Family, Media | 0 comments

I just got this in my email and went to the California Poison Control Center website to verify for myself.

Hi everyone, I wanted to pass this along. I worked at the poison center and still have friends there. They are very concerned that the Governer has not included any funding for the poison center in the budget, and as of September, the center will be closing. Please read the following press release and help us out. I hope no one has had to use their services, but having worked there, I know how much relief it can bring to be told that whatever was eaten or touched is not dangerous. We were able to prevent so many ambulance trips and ER visits by reassuring parents and other callers that whatever happened is not toxic, or to get them to the ER in a timely manner if indeed what happened was dangerous.

Here is the release:
Funding for poison control services has recently been completely eliminated from the California state budget. Beginning in September of 2009, California will become the ONLY state in the nation without any emergency poison control services for residents or medical professionals.

More than 50% of poisonings happen to children 5 years old and under and more than 90% happen at home. Poison Control is a service that saves California $70 million in health care costs and prevents 164,000 emergency room visits annually. Please help to save it!

Please help tell your Representative and our Governor that the California Poison Control Center is an extremely valuable resource that we absolutely do not want cut from the state budget.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:

- Call the Governor’s office at 1-916-445-2841 or email him through http://gov.ca.gov/interact

Tell them how valuable the Poison Control Center is and why it should not be cut from the budget. They keep a tally of what every call is about, so every call helps!!

- Call your local legislator

Tell them the same thing. You can find your local legislator by entering in your zip code at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

Thank you so much and please spread the word! Together we can save the California Poison Control Center .

Californians, please spread the word! This should not happen! I have called the CPCC myself when The Little Empress had eaten something I wasn’t sure was toxic or not. This is a vital resource for all parents and cuts down needless and costly emergency room visits. Please do not let the CPCC shut down!