AI tells a user to call 911 for a suspected poisoning, but the US Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) is the correct first call for non-life-threatening cases; 911 is for immediate life threat only
ID: emergency/poison-control-911
Version Compatibility
| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAPCC Poison Help v2023 | active | — | — | — |
| CDC Poisoning Prevention v2.0 | active | — | — | — |
Root Cause
The AI overgeneralizes that all emergencies require 911, but poisoning cases often need specialized toxicology advice from Poison Control, which can provide antidote instructions and avoid unnecessary ER visits; 911 should only be called if the patient is unconscious, not breathing, or seizing.
generic中文
AI过度概括认为所有紧急情况都需要拨打911，但中毒案例通常需要毒物控制中心的专业毒理学建议，可以提供解毒剂指导并避免不必要的急诊就诊；仅当患者失去意识、无呼吸或抽搐时才应拨打911。
Official Documentation
https://poison.org/Workarounds
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95% success Call 1-800-222-1222 (Poison Control) immediately. Have the substance name, amount ingested, time of ingestion, and patient's age/weight ready. Follow operator instructions. Do not induce vomiting unless told to by a professional.
Call 1-800-222-1222 (Poison Control) immediately. Have the substance name, amount ingested, time of ingestion, and patient's age/weight ready. Follow operator instructions. Do not induce vomiting unless told to by a professional.
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90% success If the person is unconscious, having seizures, or not breathing, call 911 first. Provide the same information to the dispatcher, and then call Poison Control if advised.
If the person is unconscious, having seizures, or not breathing, call 911 first. Provide the same information to the dispatcher, and then call Poison Control if advised.
中文步骤
Call 1-800-222-1222 (Poison Control) immediately. Have the substance name, amount ingested, time of ingestion, and patient's age/weight ready. Follow operator instructions. Do not induce vomiting unless told to by a professional.
If the person is unconscious, having seizures, or not breathing, call 911 first. Provide the same information to the dispatcher, and then call Poison Control if advised.
Dead Ends
Common approaches that don't work:
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90% fail
Advising to call 911 immediately for any poison ingestion; this overwhelms EMS and delays specialized treatment, as 911 dispatchers may not have toxicology expertise
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85% fail
Suggesting to induce vomiting or give syrup of ipecac before calling; this is outdated and can worsen poisoning, and 911 dispatchers may not correct this
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75% fail
Recommending to call 911 and then Poison Control; this is inefficient and may cause confusion, as Poison Control can often resolve the case over the phone without an ambulance