One year's experience in a regional poison control center: The Intermountain Regional Poison Control Center

The Intermountain Regional Poison Control Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, has served as a regional poison center since 1971. Between 1972 and 1976 the call load has more than tripled, with the highest frequency of calls per population coming from counties most proximate to the center. Two-thirds of the cases involve children age five or less, with 18 or over being the next large group. Adolescents and school-age children comprised the smallest group of cases. Two predominant types of poisonings were encountered: accidental ingestions of toxic substances in children and intentional self-poisonings in adults, but the poison center handled almost every conceivable type of poisoning or toxic situation. A detailed analysis of the center's overall experience as well as these two major categories is presented.