title: This issue: Managing emergencies part 2.
abstract: Pediatric toxicologic exposures are common, and the primary care pediatric practitioner must be prepared to handle emergencies related to poisoning and overdose in children and adolescents. Fortunately, many poisonings in children are unintentional, preventable, and benign. For both simple and complex cases, help is available to medical professionals 24/7 from multiple sources, including an improved toxic exposure database, new research, the network of Certified Specialists in Poison Information at our nation's regional poison control centers, and backup medical and clinical toxicologists. The US system of AAPCC-certified poison control centers has been appropriately labeled "a national safety net" serving the public and medical practitioners in the management of pediatric toxicologic exposures. Increased funding to this system will be critical to update its services for the future, including preparation to detect the increasing threat of new public health emergencies such as chemical and biological terrorist attacks.
authors.affiliation: Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Health Center in Tacoma, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ralston
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004630:Emergencies; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*