If you or someone close to you swallowed a pill or something that you think may be poisonous, took more than the necessary dose of a medicine, inhaled fumes, got some poisonous household product or liquid in the eyes or on the skin, been bitten or stung by something, swallowed a battery, been exposed to a poisonous flower, berry, etc.,Sidra Medicine has recently opened the Qatar Poison Centre which will help you decide whether you can treat and control the problem at home or need to rush to Emergency.

What the QPC is

The Qatar Poison Centre (QPC) is the first of its kind in Qatar and is an initiative of Sidra Medicine. It aims to manage poisoning cases in homes and also within healthcare settings that involved adults and children. It also promotes awareness and public education to prevent poisoning, and also works to further develop the practice of clinical toxicology within the country.

What the QPC actually does

QPC is a call centre and provides quick and fast access to poisoning management advice, guidance and support through a dedicated hotline that you can call if you are worried a loved one has accidentally taken some poisonous substance or has been exposed to it, or you have.

QPC is located within Sidra Medicine and deals with toxicology and poison control management from all over Qatar. However, it is important to note here that, the Centre only provides poison advice and support through the telephone. They do not see patients in person, nor do they provide any kind of consultations on the premises. However, they do offer follow up calls to ensure the patient is alright.

The QPC hotline is free and its confidential, so don’t hesitate to call if you or a loved one have been exposed to a poisonous substance, and you are worried and not sure if a visit to the Emergency is necessary or not.

Who handles the QPC hotline

The QPC is made up of physicians and pharmacists that have been specially trained and provided with the required expertise in clinical toxicology. They are well-equipped to manage all poison issues and provide the caller with comprehensive poison guidance, support and advice depending on the nature of the poisonous substance and based on the latest treatment guidelines.

Why a poison centre is necessary in Qatar

Poisonings are a common occurrence with many people rushing to the Emergency Centres in Qatar if they feel they or someone around them have been exposed to something poisonous. Sometimes, the situation is not dangerous, and can easily be treated at home, but as humans, we may lack that knowledge. However, at other times, the situation may be critical and immediate medical intervention may be absolutely necessary.

The QPC helps distinguish between a life-threatening poison situation and a non-life-threatening one and advises the caller whether the situation can be treated at home or a visit to the Emergency is necessary. If the problem can be treated at home, the hotline staff with provide expert guidance and support, and explain patiently, how the situation can be rectified and the problem solved. This not only helps reduce the unnecessary burden on the Emergency Centres in Qatar when the poison situation is non-life-threatening and can be treated at home, but will also save you the trouble of making an unnecessary trip to the Emergency.

What the QPC can help you with

When you call the QPC hotline, the staff can help you with questions relating to the exposure to poisonous substances which include, but are not limited to:

• Drugs (prescription, over-the-counter, or even herbal medicines) taken accidentally or the wrong dose
• Cosmetic
• Household cleaning products
• Chemicals at work or in the environment
• Gases and fumes
• Snake bites, spider bites, scorpion stings, jellyfish stings or other marine exposures, plant exposures

What to expect when you call the QPC

When you call the QPC hotline, you may be asked the following questions:

• Details about the situation, including: timing, persons involved, location, etc.
• Details about the medicine, chemical, or household product involved. Keep the container within reach to provide any additional information requested.
• Details about the person affected such as their age, weight, medical history, and any current symptoms.

What will happen next?

• Once you have told the QPC hotline staff all they need to know, they will tell you exactly what to do to solve the problem, and if the problem is life-threatening, based on the information you provided, they will tell you to call an ambulance at 999 or go to the nearest emergency for immediate treatment.
• If necessary, the hotline staff will call you again to ensure that everything is OK.

QPC Hotline number and timings

Feel free to call if the QPC hotline and when you have a poison-related issue; the staff will help you out and put your mind at ease.

Details

Hotline no: +974 4003 1111

Timings: Seven days a week; 9 am - 1 am (soon to be 24/7)

Have you or someone close to you been exposed to a poisonous substance? What did you do? What do you think of the QPC? Do you think it is a good initiative? Do let us know your thoughts in our Comments section.Like and share the article - it keeps us going!

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Nabeela

Content Writer

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