Household poisonings, especially those involving children, are more common than most people think. National Poison Prevention Week, March 18-24, is designed to raise awareness about the risks of potential poisonings at home, work and play.

 The Poison Control Center at The University of Kansas Health System answers more than 30-thousand calls a year from across the state of Kansas and the Kansas City Metro area. The center is one of only 61 in the country, and the only one in Kansas. The pharmacists, nurses and poison control specialists are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help callers determine if treatment by a physician is needed or if the situation can be managed at home. The nationwide toll-free poison hotline number is 1-800-222-1222, which will connect a caller to the nearest poison control center.

 In the video, Stefanie Baines, educator at The Poison Control Center at The University of Kansas Health System, explains the importance of poison control centers, how many poisonings occur every day in the country, what are the most common kinds of poisoning calls received, and the one most important piece of advice she has during this National Poison Prevention Week.