Know your poison

LACK of proper knowledge about
poisoning and the use of antidotes
leads to a number of deaths in the
sub-continent. Now the first National
Poisons Information Centre has been
set up at the All India Institute of
Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The
Centre will function round-the-clock
and give immediate tips to the needy.
Doctors will be advised in identifying
the cause of poisoning and the antidote
to be used. The medicos will be available
for consultation over telephone.
Queries will be answered on
011-6859391.

The Centre will also ensure that
antidotes are made available in places
where they are now difficult to procure.
It plans to establish links with other poison information centres in the world
through the Internet. The need for such
a set-up was felt because of the
rising number of poisoning cases. In
the words of S B Lall, the head of
the. Centre, "We are surrounded
by I chemicals at home and small
industries around our homes."
Information can be sought on
poisoning induced by chemicals,
plants, drugs, household pesticides and
in cases of poisonous gas leakage from
an industry.