Mission & Services

The Florida Poison Information Center Network was created by an act of the Florida Legislature in 1989 (FS 395.1027) in response to the overwhelming need for emergency poison information in the state. The Network, incorporates three poison centers located in Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa, and currently receives approximately 500 calls each day from Floridians and residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Florida’s three Poison Control Centers provide an invaluable service to the citizens of Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands by offering poison prevention and confidential management information through a nationwide, toll-free 1-800-222-1222 hotline. Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, calls are answered by specially trained physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, toxicology fellows, and board-certified toxicologists who have immediate access to the latest, in-depth poison assessment and prevention techniques. All of Florida’s Poison Control Centers are accredited as regional poison control centers by the American Association of Poison Control Centers and have also been designated by the State Department of Health to serve their assigned geographic areas within the state of Florida.

The poison specialists on staff are uniquely trained to assess, triage and manage poison information and exposure calls. All poison specialists are required to receive certification as “Certified Specialist in Poison Information” (CSPI) by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, the national agency which oversees the accreditation of poison centers and the certification of the specialists who man them. In an effort to reduce the number of poisonings in the state, Florida’s Poison Centers conduct a full spectrum of poison prevention educational programs for the general public and healthcare professionals. Members of the public and health care facilities can receive free educational materials through the 1-800-222-1222 hotline in addition to services in the event of a poison emergency. Florida’s Poison Control Centers also serve as a teaching facility for clinical toxicology fellowships and the academic training of health professional students and residents.  The poison control centers also facilitate academic rotations for nursing, medical and pharmacy students; emergency medicine, pharmacy and other medical specialty residents and fellows.