Taking a Stand against Accidental Childhood Poisoning: The Founding of the Nation's First Poison Control Center in Chicago

Abstract

Prior to the 1950s, there existed no formal system for poison prevention or treatment in the United States. Estimates place the number of pediatric poisoning fatalities at over 400 per year at that time. After World War II, urbanization and modern technological methods brought forth over 250,000 different brand name products on the market. Health care professionals presented with cases of acute poisoning usually had little knowledge of what ingredients were contained in these new products making it difficult, if not impossible, to treat these patients. In the 1930s, decades before the creation of the Chicago Poisoning Control Program, pharmacist Louis Gdalman had already established a poison information service at St. Luke's Hospital. Because of Mr. Gdalman's training in pharmacy and chemistry, physicians throughout the city of Chicago and from around the United States called on him around the clock in search of his assistance. In the late 1940s, Mr. Gdalman began recording information on small cards and developed a standard data collection form. By the 1950s he had established an extensive library on the management of acute and chronic poisoning. The first poison control center in Chicago was described as nothing more than a desk, chair, and a telephone located in the inpatient pharmacy. Reluctance by hospital administrators to designate space, resources, and funds were problems confronted by the first poison control center. Poison centers of the 1990s still experience these same difficulties.