CONCORD, N.H. — Mothers, doctors, school nurses and others who rely on New Hampshire’s poison control hotline in emergencies will have to turn elsewhere if funding isn’t found to keep the line open after July 1.
Karen Simone, director of the Northern New England Poison Center, said Tuesday that $600,000 is needed to keep the line open in New Hampshire.
She said the federal homeland security funding that has been used can no longer be used for the service. She said Vermont and Maine are not affected because those states pay for their hotlines with state or other money.
New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services has told the center it does not have the money.
Simone said hotline supporters are trying to secure funding before July 1, but nothing has materialized.
Er… federal Homeland Security funding? This may well be a worthwhile program, but what federal interest is involved? And what has accidental poisoning got to do with terrorism?
Just tax everyone to death to keep itopen. ME and NH dont need poison control. There is no poison anymore like arsenic for rats thats all old school. just read the label and you’ll be fine. Next thing well have a bond packgae to fund these things in maine. what a waste of money!!! I hope LePage gets rid of the ones here in Maine cuz we dont need em anymore than puiblic broadcasting!!! Shut em down or let em close!