Poison Control Centers – Emergency Poisoning Hotline
In Germany, the Poison Control Centers are available 24 hours a day for acute poisoning cases:
Berlin
Charité Poisoning Hotline / Poisoning Advisory Service
Tel.: 030-19240
Bonn
Poison Information Center North Rhine-Westphalia / Poison Control Center Bonn
Children’s Medicine Center, University Hospital Bonn
Tel.: 0228-19240
Erfurt
Joint Poison Information Center for the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia
Tel.: 0361-730730
Freiburg
Poison Information Center Freiburg, University Hospital Freiburg
Tel.: 0761-19240
Göttingen
Poison Information Center-North for the states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein
Tel.: 0551-19240
Homburg/Saar
Poison Information and Treatment Center for Saarland
University Hospital Saarland
Tel.: 06841-19240
Mainz
Poison Information Center (GIZ) for the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse
Clinical Toxicology, University Medical Center Mainz
Tel.: 06131-19240
Munich
Poison Hotline Munich
Department of Clinical Toxicology
Technical University of Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar
Tel.: 089-19240
Household Cleaners
Swallowing household cleaners poses a risk of caustic burns. Dishwashing liquids are less toxic, but foam can still be dangerous.
DON’T do:
- Do not induce vomiting.
- Do not give milk, as milk can speed up absorption of many substances, thereby worsening the poisoning.
Actions:
- Stay calm and reassure the child.
- If the child still has cleaner in their mouth, have them spit it out.
- Offer the child water slowly.
Caution! No carbonated drinks. - Avoid inducing vomiting, as this could cause additional damage to the esophagus from the corrosive substances.
- Call the Poison Control Center and follow their instructions.
Important! If you go to the pediatrician or hospital, bring the cleaning product with you.
Toxic Plants
Actions:
- Stay calm and reassure the child.
- If the child still has plant parts in their mouth, have them spit it out.
- Offer the child water slowly.
Caution! No carbonated or milk-based drinks. - Try to determine which part of the plant and how much the child has ingested.
- Call the Poison Control Center and follow their instructions.
Important! If you go to the pediatrician or hospital, bring pieces of the toxic plant with you.
Medications and Dangerous Substances
Colorful pills and substances (e.g., colorful petroleum) are particularly attractive to children between 2 and 3 years old and are often explored orally.
Actions:
- Stay calm and reassure the child.
- If the child still has the substance in their mouth, have them spit it out.
- Offer the child water slowly.
Caution! No carbonated or milk-based drinks. - Try to determine what substance and how much the child ingested.
- Call the Poison Control Center and follow their instructions.
Important! If you go to the pediatrician or hospital, bring the substance with you.
