Press release

Press release: webPOISONCONTROL® reaches one million users

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 11, 2024

webPOISONCONTROL® reaches one million users: Milestone marks major achievement in public health and poisoning triage and treatment

Washington, DC: webPOISONCONTROL, the nation’s trusted online resource for poison information and management, is proud to announce a major milestone: it has now served one million users. This achievement underscores the tool’s critical role in providing timely, reliable, and life-saving advice to those facing possible poison exposures.

Launched to fill a gap for users who don’t want to or cannot call a poison center, webPOISONCONTROL offers an easy-to-use, quick, accessible, and accurate self-guided interface for assessing potential poison risks and finding immediate next steps. Available 24/7, the tool is particularly valuable in time-sensitive situations, providing users with customized recommendations based on the substance, amount ingested, and other essential factors.

“Reaching one million users is a testament to both the demand and the trust people have in webPOISONCONTROL,” said Dr. Toby Litovitz, Director of webPOISONCONTROL. “We’re dedicated to making it easier for families and individuals to manage poison exposures and get the help they need, without anxiety or delay.”

webPOISONCONTROL’s success is attributed to its nearly 3,000 robust ingredient algorithms, developed by toxicology experts, that ensure accurate, evidence-based guidance for unintentional exposures. With nearly 200,000 substances and 1.5 million unique product codes (UPCs) in its database, the tool has quickly become indispensable for families, caregivers, and even healthcare providers seeking rapid assistance. Sixty percent of cases involve a child under six years old, and the top substance categories for which people use the tool are cosmetics and personal care products, household cleaning products, analgesics (pain relievers), dietary supplements, and topical preparations. Free aggregated case data are available in the public webPOISONCONTROL Data Analysis Dashboard.

In addition to serving individuals in real-time, webPOISONCONTROL plays an essential role in reducing strain on healthcare systems, preventing unnecessary emergency room visits while ensuring that those who do need immediate medical attention seek it as quickly as possible.

As webPOISONCONTROL celebrates this milestone, the National Capital Poison Center looks forward to expanding its reach and impact with ongoing enhancements and new features already in development.

About webPOISONCONTROL

webPOISONCONTROL is a free online service created to help users identify and respond to potential poison exposures. Driven by data and designed by toxicologists, webPOISONCONTROL provides quick, accurate, and accessible answers, with the safety of users as its top priority. webPOISONCONTROL, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, was developed by the National Capital Poison Center in collaboration with other poison centers and funded entirely by donations. Corporate sponsorships are available.

About the National Capital Poison Center

This section was updated Jan 2026

The National Capital Poison Center, founded in 1980, is an independent, private, nonprofit organization. It operates the nation's first fully-automated, all-digital online Poison Control, leveraging its webPOISONCONTROL^® tool, to provide expert guidance for poison exposures throughout the US, for those who prefer to get help online rather than by phone.

The mission of National Capital Poison Center is to prevent poisonings, save lives, and limit injury from poisoning by providing free, expert, online guidance, 24/7. Immediate access to triage and treatment guidance for poison exposures optimizes poisoning outcomes and decreases health care costs.

Learn more about the National Capital Poison Center here.

Learn more about webPOISONCONTROL here.

For more information

Contact pc@poison.org