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New poisons number
The National Poisons Centre has a new number – 0800
POISON (0800 764-766). The NPC answers calls from all
over the country on such things as poisonings involving
household commodities, agricultural and industrial
chemicals, medicines, cosmetics and poisonous plants, as
well as questions about occupational hazards when working
with chemicals, management of spills or fires involving
chemicals and the disposal of unwanted chemicals. “With our new 0800 number, we’re hoping that people
who in the past may not have called us because of the
cost of the toll call, will start to use the free service - but
first they have to know about it,” says administrator Lucy
Shieffelbien. The centre has a database with information
about more than 60,000 chemicals, medicines and plants. In the past year, the NPC has had 2197 calls from people
in Christchurch needing advice and information. |