Page 7 - WVPC 2018 Annual Report.pub
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Qualifica ons of Staff Answering Poison
Center Calls
Medical experts (doctors, pharmacists, and nurses) with specialized training in
the recogni on and management of poisonings/overdoses from drugs, toxins,
venoms, chemicals, plants/mushrooms, radia on, and other substances
Cer fied Specialists in Poison Informa on
(CSPIs), have extensive experience and
training in the area of toxicology and must
pass a na onal poison specialist examina on.
Maintenance of cer fica on requires
reexamina on and proof on con nued full‐
me employment as a CSPI.
What types of resources are used?
Trained and experienced medical experts
Computer based databases for product based informa on
On‐line databases for specific toxin types
An up‐to‐date comprehensive toxicology library (print and on‐line)
Mul ple toxicology text books (updated yearly)
Specialty consultants
Internet based resources
Safety Data Sheets (SDS’s)
West Virginia Poison Center Annual Report 2018 Page 7