Poison Emergency: Overview of all Poison Emergency Numbers

Brief overview

  • Poison emergency numbers: In Germany depending on the region, Austria 01 406 43 43; Switzerland: 145 (These are the numbers within the respective country).
  • When to call the poison control center? Whenever there is a suspicion of poisoning. First call the emergency services (112), then the local poison control center. Signs of poisoning are, for example: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, cardiovascular arrest.
  • Other important emergency numbers: 112 nationwide emergency number for all emergency situations; 110 for the nearest police station.

Overview: All poison emergency numbers

You suspect a person is suffering from acute poisoning? Here you can find the right poison emergency phone number:

  • Berlin (responsible for Berlin, Brandenburg): 030 192 40
  • Bonn (responsible for NRW): 0228 192 40
  • Erfurt (responsible for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia): 0361 730 730
  • Göttingen (responsible for Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein): 0551 192 40
  • Mainz (responsible for Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and Saarland): 06131 192 40
  • Munich (responsible for Bavaria): 089 192 40

Below you will find further information on the seven poison centers in Germany, for example their websites, fax numbers and e-mail addresses. In addition, you will find the poison control centers of the neighboring countries Austria and Switzerland.

Berlin

Giftnotruf Berlin:

  • Emergency call: 030 192 40
  • Fax: 030 450 569 901
  • E-Mail: [email protected]
  • Internet address: Giftnotruf Berlin at: https://giftnotruf.charite.de
  • Location: Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, House VIII (utility building), UG
  • Address: Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin

Bonn

The Bonn Poison Control Center is responsible for all cases of poisoning in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).

Information center against poisoning:

  • Emergency call: 0228 192 40
  • Fax: 0228 287 332 78 or 0228 287 333 14
  • Internet address: Information center against poisoning at: www.gizbonn.de
  • Location: Center for Pediatrics, Bonn University Hospital.
  • Address: Venusberg-Campus 1 Building 30 “ELKI”, 53127 Bonn, Germany

Erfurt

The Poison Control Center Erfurt is responsible for all cases of poisoning in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.

Poison Information Center:

  • Emergency call: 0361 730 730
  • Fax: 0361 730 7317
  • E-mail: [email protected]
  • Internet address: Poison Information Center at: www.ggiz-erfurt.de
  • Address: Nordhäuser Street 74, 99089 Erfurt, Germany

Freiburg

The Freiburg poison control center is responsible for all cases in Baden-Württemberg.

Poisoning Information Center:

  • Emergency call: 0761 192 40
  • Fax: 0761 270 445 70
  • E-Mail: [email protected]
  • Internet address: Poisoning Information Center at: www.uniklinik-freiburg.de/giftberatung
  • Location: Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Freiburg
  • Address: Mathildenstr. 1, 79106 Freiburg, Germany

Göttingen

Poison Information Center-North:

  • Emergency call: 0551 192 40 (everyone) and 383 180 (for professionals)
  • Fax: 0551 383 1881
  • E-Mail: [email protected]
  • Internet address: Poison Information Center-North at: www.giz-nord.de
  • Location: University Medical Center Göttingen – Georg-August-University
  • Address: Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany

Mainz

The Poison Control Center Mainz is responsible for all cases in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland.

Poison Information Center Rhineland-Palatinate/Hesse:

  • Emergency call: 06131 192 40
  • Fax: 06131 232 468 (not for emergencies!)
  • E-mail: [email protected] (not for emergencies!)
  • Internet address: Poison Information Center Rhineland-Palatinate/Hesse at: www.unimedizin-mainz.de/giz/uebersicht
  • Location: Clinical Toxicology – University Medicine of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
  • Address: Langenbeckstraße 1, Building 601, 55131 Mainz, Germany.

Munich

The Munich Poison Control Center is responsible for all cases in Bavaria.

Poison Control Center Munich:

  • Emergency call: 089 192 40
  • Fax: 089 414 047 89
  • Website: Poison Control Center at: www.toxikologie.mri.tum.de/giftnotruf-muenchen
  • Location: Department of Clinical Toxicology and Poison Control Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
  • Address: Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany

Poison Control Center Austria

Poisoning Information Center:

  • Emergency call: 01 406 43 43 (from abroad: +43 1 406 43 43)
  • Secretariat for general advice: +43 140 668 98
  • Fax: +43 140 668 9821
  • E-mail: [email protected]
  • Location: AKH Control Center 6 Q
  • Address: Stubenring 6, A-1010 Vienna

Poison Hotline Switzerland

Tox Info Suisse/Swiss Toxicological Information Center (STIZ):

  • Emergency call: 145 (If there are problems with the number 145 or from abroad: +41 44 251 51 51)
  • Secretariat for general inquiries: +41 442 516 666
  • Fax: +41 442 528 833
  • E-mail: [email protected]
  • Website: Swiss Toxicological Information Center (STIZ) at: www.toxinfo.ch
  • Address: Freiestrasse 16, CH-8032 Zurich

When to call the poison control center?

You should call the poison control center in the event of (suspected) acute poisoning. This can happen quickly, especially to a child: He or she may drink from what is supposed to be a soda bottle, but is actually a household cleaner. Or it finds a battery during its discovery tour and swallows it.

Some poisonings are less dangerous, while others can even be fatal. The extent of poisoning can hardly be assessed by laypersons. So always seek professional advice!

If you suspect that someone may have poisoned themselves, first call the emergency services (112) and then contact your local poison control center.

The poison control center is available around the clock.

Signs of poisoning are:

  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Headache, dizziness
  • agitation, hallucinations, confusion
  • pallor, reddening of the skin, feeling of heat
  • breathing problems up to respiratory arrest
  • Cardiovascular failure

What types of poisoning there are and what to do in this case, read the article poisoning.

What questions does the poison control center ask?

Poison Control asks these questions:

  • What has the person (allegedly) ingested? Please state as precisely as possible which substance or product is involved. The exact name can usually be found on the packaging.
  • How much was taken? State the amount taken, if and as accurately as possible.
  • Who is affected? The age, weight, sex and condition of the person(s) affected is important to estimate the effect of the substance.
  • When did this happen? Be as specific as possible about when it happened.
  • Where are you? If you are unsure of the location/address, ask other people or passersby.
  • How did the person take the substance? Did he swallow, inhale, or have skin contact with the substance? Be as specific as possible with this answer as well.

The poison control center staff will tell you how to proceed. Stay on the phone until the center ends the call. Follow the instructions and administer first aid accordingly.

Other important emergency numbers

In other emergency situations, dial 112, which is valid throughout Germany and Europe. The emergency call is automatically received by the locally responsible rescue control center under this number.