Substitute Resolution to
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 of the 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 poison...
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