Illinois Statutes Chapter 410. Public Health § 47/5. Declaration of purpose

§ 5. Declaration of purpose. The General Assembly finds and declares that it is in the public interest to reduce the incidence, severity, and expenditures associated with the accidental, intentional, and environmental poisoning of children, adults, and animals; to educate the public and health professionals concerning the prevention and treatment of hazardous exposures; and to ensure that adequate poison control services are available on a statewide basis. The General Assembly believes that the people of the State of Illinois will benefit from the provision of poison control activities because these activities will reduce the number of accidental poisonings, provide immediate medical information, and lower health care costs. In addition, poison control activities will reduce the number of deaths, reduce emotional stress, promote faster recovery, and provide more cost effective treatment for poisoning exposures. The General Assembly also finds that a statewide poison control system covering human and animal exposures can utilize animal exposures as monitors of environmental quality and human risk, provide for a complete epidemiological surveillance of poisoning, reduce the economic impact from livestock loss due to poisoning and help maintain a safe food supply, and avoid duplication of services and waste. A statewide system will also increase preparedness for toxicological disasters and provide antidote depots. It is the purpose of this Act to establish a comprehensive, statewide regional poison control system so that any person may obtain expert hazard, toxicology, and treatment information on a 24 hours basis.