[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 53 (Friday, April 4, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE POISON CENTER SUPPORT, ENHANCEMENT AND AWARENESS 
                        ACT OF 2008 (H.R. 5669)

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. LEE TERRY

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 3, 2008

  Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague, 
Congressman Towns (NY-10) on the introduction of the Poison Center 
Support, Enhancement, and Awareness Act of 2008 which provides the 
necessary funding to operate poison control centers across the country.
  First, I want to thank Mr. Towns for his leadership on this issue. As 
a fellow member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and a member of 
the Health Subcommittee, his expertise and experience with public 
health matters is much appreciated.
  Poison Control Centers throughout the United States play a critical 
role in saving lives, especially of children. Poisoning is the second 
leading form of unintentional death in the United States and an 
estimated 60 percent of those exposures are experienced by children 
under the age of 6 who are exposed to toxins in their home. Commonly 
ingested items found in the home include cleaning supplies, cosmetics, 
and pesticides.
  Poison centers are manned by medical professionals 24 hours a day. 
Toxicologists at these centers have access to a computerized 
information retrieval system with over 800,000 products. These 
professionals are then able to assess poison risk, advise treatment 
and/or triage patients, recommend treatment or refer them to 
appropriate medical facilities.
  The Nebraska Regional Poison Center, established in 1957, serves 
Nebraska, Wyoming, American Samoa, and Federated States of Micronesia 
and provides 24-hour emergency and information hotline services. Last 
year alone, they received 40,129 calls and provided guidance and helped 
diagnose victims of accidental poisonings. Approximately 75 percent of 
calls to the Nebraska Regional Poison Center were able to be treated 
safely at home. In 2007, the Nebraska Regional Poison Center estimates 
that its services saved patients about $22 million in healthcare costs. 
Poison control centers save money by eliminating or reducing the number 
of unnecessary trips to emergency departments.
  Madam Speaker, this bill provides the funding needed to reauthorize 
the poison center national toll-free number, national media campaign, 
and grant program to provide assistance for poison prevention. This 
legislation not only saves lives, but it saves millions of dollars a 
year in unnecessary costs. I urge my colleagues to support this bill 
and have it considered on the House floor.

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