Chicago City Council Resolution Protect the Illinois Poison Center
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center has been providing timely poison prevention and treatment services to the people of Illinois for over 60 years as the oldest and one of the largest poison centers in the nation; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center is a mainstay in the emergency medical care system ofthe State of Illinois and is recognized nationally for its contributions to poison treatment and prevention; and
WHEREAS, poisoning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center serves as a first responder for Illinois residents facing poisoning emergencies, caring for nearly 82,000 poison-related cases statewide annually - with nearly 13,000 in Chicago alone; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center proactively educates Chicago residents in an effort to reduce poisonings, such as increasing ingestion of "laundry pod" detergent packages by children, or new forms of drug or medication misuse/abuse by patients; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center has trained over 400 Chicagoans in poison prevention education; and they, in turn, staffed over 88 events reaching over 12,000 Chicago residents with injury prevention and education; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center assists in public health threats and disaster preparedness, including threats of bioterrorism, concerns about the influenza outbreaks, and inquiries concerning nuclear radiation matters and material and antidote distribution for Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center also plays a key role in the Chicago Department of Public Health's CHEMPACK Program, serving in coordination to pre-position antidotes to expedite the treatment of individuals exposed to chemical nerve agents; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center provides expertise to Chicago's first responders during crisis poisonings, including toxicology expertise and consultation services; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center manages approximately 90 percent of cases from the general public at home and prevents about 4,800 unnecessary emergency room visits in Chicago alone; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center prevents an estimated 4,000 unnecessary ambulance runs in Chicago annually; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center saved Chicago over $7 million in reduced health care and lost productivity costs in 2012 alone; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center is funded through what is a true public-private partnership; and
WHEREAS, approximately 25 percent ofthe Illinois Poison Center's total budget is provided in the form of base funding by the State of Illinois, down from the historical 40 percent over the past decade; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Poison Center may close on June 30, 2014 due to continued decreases in government investment, making Illinois the only state in the country without poison center services; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is concerned with losing its only remaining poison control, information and treatment center; and
THEREFORE, WE, RAHM EMMANUEL, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, and the CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL are encouraged to support the efforts ofthe Illinois Poison Center to pursue a plan for sustainable and appropriate funding to preserve the Illinois Poison Center and continue to save lives; and
NOW BE IT RESOLVED, that the Chicago delegation ofthe Illinois General Assembly are aware that the plan put forth by the Illinois Poison Center would not affect current funding for 9-1-1 call centers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chicago delegation of the Illinois General Assembly support the funding ofthe Illinois Poison Center as part ofthe reauthorization ofthe Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution is spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to the Chicago delegation ofthe Illinois General Assembly.