>> "DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

JUST AHEAD TONIGHT, WHAT CAUSES MOST OF THE CALLS TO THE MARYLAND POISON CENTER?

WE WILL FIND OUT.

BUT FIRST TONIGHT, MARYLAND'S NEW GOVERNOR WANTS LAWMAKERS TO APPROVE A NEW SERVICE YEAR OPTION FOR GRADUATING SENIORS.

>> MY YEARS OF SERVICE TRANSFORMED ME.

MY CHARACTER WAS STRENGTHEN DOLLARS.

MY VISTAS WERE WIDENED.

AND MY LEADERSHIP WAS TESTED.

I WANT EVERY ONE MARYLANDER OF EVERY BACKGROUND AND FROM EVERY COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR STATE.

THAT'S WHY WE WILL OFFER A SERVICE YEAR OPTION FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.

A YEAR'S SERVICE CAN PREPARE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THEIR CAREERS AND ALSO PROVIDE OUR STATE WITH FUTURE LEADERS, PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED.

>> Jeff: WHAT EXO A SERVICE YEAR OPTION LOOK LIKE IN MARYLAND?

JOINING US TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS TONIGHT IS JOHN BRIDGELAND, VICE CHAIR MFNT SERVICE YEAR ALLIANCE.

SIR, THANK YOU SCRCH FOR JOINING US.

TELL US -- VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR ORGANIZATION.

>> John Bridgeland: SO, JEFF, I WAS DIRECTOR OF WHITE HOUSE DOMESTIC POLICY DISCOUNTS FOR PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH AND 9/11 HIT.

AND I WAS IN THE OVAL OFFICE AND THE PRESIDENT SAID, BRIDGE, I WANT AN INITIATIVE THAT WILL FOSTER A CULTURE SERVICE, CITIZENSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY TO BUILD ON THE MILLIONS OF ACTS OF KINDNESS AND GOODNESS AND DECENCY THAT WERE EMERGING FROM THAT TERRIBLE DAY.

AND SO WE FORMED THE FREEDOM CORPS WHICH BROUGHT THE PEACE CORPS TO ITS HIGHEST LEVELS IN FOUR DECADES, INCREASED A PROGRAM CALLED AMERICORPS, THAT DEPLOYS MOSTLY YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE TEACH FOR AMERICA, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, CITY YEAR, WELL-KNOWN PROGRAMS.

VISTA THAT PRESIDENT JOHNSON HAD EXREATD IN THE WAR ON POVERTY BACK IN THE 1960s.

SENIOR CORPS, THAT PRESIDENT NIXON HAD CREATED.

THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS THAT PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT WILL CREATED, AND IT'S BEEN A VERY BIPARTISAN CAUSE ACROSS THE DECADES, AND I 1 ON TO SERVE BARACK OBAMPRESIDENT OBAMA AND WORKED WITH HIM AND HIS ADMINISTRATION ON THE DRAFTING OF IT HAVE OF THE SERVE AMERICA ACT SPONSORED BY DEMOCRAT TED KENNEDY, REPUBLICAN ORRIN HATCH IN A BIPARTISAN STROKE OF HOPE FOR THE COUNTRY.

TO BRING NATIONAL SERVICE TO A GREATER EXPANSION.

GIVEN THAT TIMES AS MANY YOUNG PEOPLE FINANCE FIVE DIMES IN THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WERE LITERALLY RAISING THEIR HANDS TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY AND WANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.

>> Jeff: GOVERNOR WES MOORE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN YOUR WORK A LITTLE BIT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR YOU'RE NOT HERE AS A SPOKEMAN FOR WHAT HE'S ABOUT TO PROPOSE.

>> John Bridgeland: I'M NOT.

>> Jeff: WELL, GIVE US AN IDEA ABOUT THE OVERALL VALUE OF EFFORTS LIKE THIS.

IT'S AMAZING HOW FAR BACK IT GOES WHEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT FDR.

THERE'S LONGSTANDING APPEAL TO IT, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING MANDATORY, RIGHT?

>> John Bridgeland: THAT'S CORRECT.

THIS WOULD BE A -- THERE'S ACTUALLY VERY LITTLE SUPPORT IN THE UNITED STATES FOR A MANDATORY NATIONAL SERVICE SYSTEM.

WE ACTUALLY HAVEN'T TESTED IT, AND ONLY ABOUT 10% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA.

ENCOURAGINGLY, THOUGH, THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE, SUPPORT AN INVESTMENT TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE A LIVING STIPEND AND AN EDUCATION AWARD FOR A YEAR OR MORE OF NATIONAL SERVICE, AND I THINK WHAT GOVERNOR MOORE, FIRST HE'S A CREDIBLE THIS IS MESSENGER, HE SERVED IN THE MILL FARE, HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH PEOPLE ACROSS DIFFERENCES AND BACKGROUND, SAW HOW YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE NATION CULTIVATED LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN HIM AND ALSO INSPIRED HIM TO GO INTO PUBLIC SERVICE.

SO I THINK ACTUALL MARYLAND CORPS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS IN CIVILIAN NATIONAL SERVICE THAT I HAVE SEEN SINCE 9/11.

THE IDEA THAT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ALL ACROSS MARYLAND WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A FULL YEAR OF NATIONAL SERVICE TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR STATE AND THEIR NATION FRANKLY IS A VERY BIG IDEA, AND GENERAL MCCHRYSTAL AND I WHO LEAD THE SERVICE YEAR ALLIANCE ARE EXCITED TO SEE HOW THE MODEL EMERGENCE FIRST, TO SEE ITS ADVOCACY, AND THEN HOPEFULLY IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL BRING THE MODEL TO STATES ALL ACROSS THE NATION.

>> Jeff: ARE THERE ANY OTHER STATES, ANY LOCALITIES DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> John Bridgeland: IT'S INTERESTING.

WHEN GOVERNOR SWHG AND MARIA SHRIVER CIEM TO OFFICE WE WORK WITH THEM.

>> Jeff: THE PEACE CORPS CONNECTION THERE, RIGHT?

SCHINCHTS YES, MARIA'S FATHER WAS SARGTD SHRIVER TO WHO I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO BE MENTORED BY HIM AFTER 9/11.

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST TRANSFORMATION A EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE.

AND THEY CREATED A CABINET LEVEL POSITION SO THAT NATIONAL SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERING WOULD BE A REAL PRIORITY OF THE GOVERNOR, AND SO CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN ANOTH BEEN LEADING THE WAY IN TERMS OF EXPANDING SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES, AND GOVERNOR NEWSOM CREATED A COLLEGE CORPS, AGAIN THIS IDEA THAT IF YOU GIVE TO THE STATE AND YOUR COMMUNITIES, IF YOU INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY, WE'LL INVEST IN YOU.

>> Jeff: SO, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND TEACH FOR AMERICA.

THAT'S PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY AND HAS HAD A VERY CLEARLY POSITIVE IMPACT.

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE DOING IF YOU'RE STAYING WITHIN THE BORDERS OR CLOSE TO WITHIN THE BORDERS OF MARYLAND?

>> John Bridgeland: SO MARYLAND HAS A LOT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS OBVIOUSLY, AND SOME OF THEM ARE LOW-PERFORMING.

CITY YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, MOBILIZES JUST LIKE MY SON SERVED IN CITY YEAR SAN JOSE.

HE WAS TOUR THE AND MENTOR AND STUDENT SUCCESS COACH TO FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS TO KEEP THEM ON TRACK IN READING, MATH, STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE, GETTING CONNECTED TO AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, ENSURING THEY SHOWED UP FOR SCHOOL ON TIME AND STAYED ENGAGE, AND TEACHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT THOSE PROGRAMS ACTUALLY BOOST NOT ONLY ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE BUT PERFORMANCE IN THE VERY SKILLS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED IN THE WORKFORCE LIKE SELF-DISCIPLINE, SELF-REGULATION, COLLABORATING WITH OTHERS, LEARNING TO LISTEN AND HAVE EMPATHY FOR OTHER PEOPLE, WORKING ACROSS DIFFERENCES TO GET THINGS DONE.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, HELPING TO BUILD HOMES FOR THOSE IN NEED, HOUSING, WORKING VIDE BY SIDE WITH VETERANS.

EARTH DONSVATION CORE AND CONSERVATION CORE PROGRAMS TO CLEAN UP RIVERS AND PARKS LIKE THE EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS IS DOING WITH THE AN COSTTIA THAT CLOSE THROUGH OUR NATION'S CAPITOL AND A WHOLE HOST OF PROGRAM.

WHEN RONALD REAGAN ADVANCED THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS IN CALIFORNIA, THE MOTTO WAS HARD WORK, LOW PAY, MISERABLE CONDITIONS, AND THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE STEPPED UP.

TO SERVE IN THE CCC BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THIS WAS AN ADVENTURE, IT HELPED PUT THEM ON A PATH TO A BETTER FUTURE, AND CONNECT THEM TO A COUNTRY THAT'S DESPERATE FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

>> Jeff: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE IDEA OF A SERVICE YEAR OPTION IN MARYLAND, GIVE US A CALL AT THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR SEND AN EMAIL TO LIVE LIVEQUESTIONS@MPT.ORG.

SO WHAT DOES IT TEND TO COST PER YOUNG PERSON?

>> Dr. David Wilson: BRINK SO >> John Bridgeland: SO IT VARIES BY AREA OF THE COUNTRY BUT FOR EXAMPLE THE -- IT PROVIDES SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY REQUIRE MATCHING BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR THE LOCAL ORGANIZATION ABOUT $20,000 FOR A LIVING STIPEND FOR A FULL YEAR, WHICH IS A LOW COST WAY TO ENGAGE AND KEEP PEOPLE IN HOUSING, OBVIOUSLY HAVE FOOD, THE COST OF LIVING.

ON TOP THAT OF, JEFF, AT THE END OF YOUR SERVICE YOU GET AN EDUCATION AWARD OF ABOUT $6,700 THAT HELPS YOU TO DEFRAY THE COST OF COLLEGE.

WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT GOVERNOR MOORE'S PROPOSAL IS, ONE, HE'S PROPOSING A NEW DEPARTMENT OF SERVICE AND CIVIC INNOVATION.

AND ACTUALLY APPOINTING THE SECRETARY OF SERVICE WHO WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO HIM.

AND I SAW FIRSTHAND AFTER 9/11 HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS WHEN I HAD A DIRECT REPORT TO PRESIDENT BUSH, PRESIDENT BUSH DID 42 EVENTS FOCUSED ON NATIONAL SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERING.

AND WITHOUT THE KIND OF PRIORITY AND PUBLIC EXPOSURE AND SIGNAL FROM THE PRESIDENT, CONGRESS WOULDN'T HAVE INCREASED AMERICORPS VISTA, PEACE CORPS, ALL THESE PROGRAMS.

IT TAKES THAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP AND SENSE OF PRIORITY, SO I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED BY GOVERNOR MOORE'S LEADERSHIP THERE.

THE OTHER THING HE'S DONE THAT'S INTERESTING IS TO WEIGH THE IN-STATE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR COLLEGE TUITION FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SERVED IN AMERICORPS, VISTA, MORE NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS.

HE'S BASICALLY SENDING THE SIGNAL THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT THOSE WHO HAVE SHOWN A COMMITMENT TO DO THESE SERVICE PROGRAMS AND ADOPT THEM INTO MARYLAND BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE IT'S A REAL PATH TO A BETTER FUTURE.

>> Jeff: A VIEWER QUESTION.

A VIEWER CANTS WANTS TO KNOW, SO AFTER ONE YEAR OF SERVICE, WHAT THEN?

WHAT'S IN IT FOR THE STATE?

AND WHAI MAYBE A LITTLE MORE ON WHAT'S IN IT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.

>> John Bridgeland: IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

FOR THE STATE IT'S BASICALLY EXTRA HUMAN CAPITAL TO HELP SOLVE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AT LOW COST TO TAXPAYERS.

THESE TUTORS AND MENTORS AND STUDENT SUCCESS COACHES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATION, THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE CITY YEAR, HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT AMERICORPS AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION JUST INVESTED ANOTHER $20 MILLION IN A NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR STUDENT SUCCESS WHICH WILL MOBILIZE 250,000 TUTORS, MENTORS, AND COUNSELORS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE LEARNING LOSS EXPERIENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

FOR THE INDIVIDUAL, IT CULTIVATES BASICALLY PUTS YOU OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE, PUTS YOU TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE OF DIFFERENT POLITICS, BACKGROUNDS.

I CO-CHAIR AN INITIATIVE IN WASHINGTON, DC, WITH ETHYL KENDALL, ROBERT F. KENNEDY'S WIDOW.

SHE'S WELL INTO HER 90s NOW.

AND WE WERE DOING A SERVICE PROJECT A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND WE ASKED, HOW MANY OF YOU REPUBLICANS?

HANDS WENT YOU WILL UP?

HOW MANY OF YOU ARE DEMOCRAT?

HAND WENT.

INDEPENDENCE.

PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS, DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY, RICH AND LOW-INCOME.

AND BRIDGING THOSE DIFFERENCES IN COMMON WORK IS NOT ONLY AN EXPERIENCE THE YOUNG PERSON WILL NEVER FORGET.

IT CHANGES THEIR VIEW, AS IT DID FOR GOVERNOR MOORE, OF LEADERSHIP AND HOW TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE TO GET THINGS DONE, NOTWITHSTANDING POLITICAL OR OTHER DIFFERENCES.

>> Jeff: LET'S TAKE A PHONE CALL FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

THIS IS AVA.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

>> Ariana Kelly: OKAY.

I HAV.>> Speaker: I HAVE A QUESTION.

WILL THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BE FOUR YEARS OR WILL IT BE FIVE YEARS?

>> Jeff: GREAT QUESTION.

AND THERE A WAY TO SORT OF BUILD THIS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, SOMETHING LESS THAN A FULL YEAR COMMITMENT?

>> John Bridgeland: IT'S A WONDERFUL QUESTION, AVA.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MULTIPLE MODELS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

ONE IS A SURNL SERVICE WHERE YOUNG -- SUMMER OF SERVICE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN PERFORM A OR MULTIPLE YEARS SERVICE TO USE THAT PERIOD BETWEEN GRADES WHERE WE KNOW FROM THE EVIDENCE THERE COULD BE LEARNING LOSS.

THAT'S BEEN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE, NOT ONLY FOR THE YOUNG PERSON THEMSELVES BUT OBVIOUSLY THE COMMUNITIES THEY IMPACT.

SOME HAVE TALKED ABOUT BASICALLY MAKING HIGH SCHOOL THREE YEARS AND THEN A SERVICE YEAR, KIND OF A PRACTICAL YEAR TO ENGAGE THEM IN THE COMMUNITY EVEN WITH FELLOWSHIPS, WITH LOCAL NON-PROFITS OR OTHER ENTERPRISES OR, AS I THINK DR. NICHOLS GOVERNOR MOORE ENVISIONS, I THINK THERE ARE 58,000 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ACROSS MARYLAND.

AND SO A THOUSAND OR 5,000 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WHO WOULD PERFORM A YEAR OF NATIONAL SERVICE IS AN EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER AND CONTRIBUTION NOT ONLY TO THE STATE BUT TO THE NATION GIVEN THAT THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 75,000 AMERICANS WHO DO A YEAR OF NATIONAL SERVICE THROUGH AMERICORPS, VIS TWAWB PEACE CORPS AND THESE OTHER PROGRAMS.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO SEE IT EMERGE AS SOMETHING THAT COULD EXPAND OPPORTUNITY, GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SERVE THEIR STATES AND COUNTRY AND ARE TURNED AWAY.

>> Jeff: JOHN, I JUST HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE.

A LOT OF BIG IDEAS COME INTO THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND BY THE END OF THE SESSION THEY'RE SMALLER YPPEDZ.

GOVERNOR MOORE -- IDEAS, GOVERNOR MOORE IS IN HIS HONEYMOON.

THE STATE HAS A LOT OF SURPLUS MONEY SO HE'S GOING TO GET SOMETHING.

WHAT WOULD BE A REASONABLE STARTING POINT?

>> John Bridgeland: I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS HE'S ALREADY STARTED IN THE STATE OF THE STATE.

Y HE ANNOUNCED I THINK IT WAS $1.1 MILLION FOR A CHESAPEAKE CONSERVATION CORPS, SHOWING AT THE GET-GO HE IS AND IT HAD TO MOVING AND TO MOVING QUICKLY.

HE ALSO REACHED ACROSS THE AISLE AND SAID THIS ADMINISTRATION IS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND, IT'S NOT THE MOORE ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO CREATE A SPIRIT OF BARNSSHIP WHICH ACTUALLY WILL BE DPROICIALG HIM TO GET THE STATE LEGISLATURE BEHIND INCREASING SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.

AND FINALLY, THE FACT THAT HE CREATED A NEW SECRETARY SERVICE AND A NEW DEPARTMENT WHICH IS NOT A SMALL UNDERTAKING IN HIS ADMINISTRATION IS AN EXTRAORDINARY STEP.

>> Jeff: JOHN, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE.

JOHN BRIDGE DGED OF THE SERVICE YEAR ALLIANCE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

NOW MARYLAND'S POISON CENTER CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SERVICE.

ALL TYPES HAVE CASES HAVE COME IN OVER THE DECADES, FROM GAS SIGN OFFING BACK IN THE 70s TOSSES LAUNDRY PODS MORE RECENTLY.

AND JOINING US NOW ARE BRUCE ANDERSON AND ANGEL BIVINS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR RESPECT TIFLT MARYLAND POISON CENTER.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

HAS THIS ALWAYS BEEN BACK FIVE DECADES AFFILIATED WITH THE SCHOOL OF PHARMACY?

>> Bruce Anderson: SO THERE WAS A POISON CENTER PRIOR TO IT COMING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF PHARMACY.

BUT IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAD A SOLID HOME.

IT APPARENTLY WENT -- THIS IS WAY BEFORE MY TIME -- WENT FROM EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, AND IT REALLY NEEDED A PLACE TO BE, AND ONE OF THE FORMER DEANS WORK WITH THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IN BALTIMORE AT THE TIME AND SAID, LOOK, THERE NEEDS TO BE A HOME FOR THE POISON CENTER.

WE CAN PROVIDE IT.

AND THAT'S HOW IT STARTED AT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF PHARMACY.

>> Jeff: ANGEL, WHAT CAUSES MOST OF THE CALLS THAT YOU GET?

IS THERE ONE THING OR ONE CATEGORY OF THINGS?

BING>> John Bridgeland: US.

>> Angel Bivins: HOUSEHOLD PRODUCT AND COSMETIC AND PERSON CARE PRODUCTS ARE PROBABLY THE TWO THINGS THAT GO BACK AND FORTH AS THE LEADING CAUSES, SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT CLEANERS THAT LOOK LIKE JUICES AND THINGS LIKE THAT OR JUST SPLASHING A CLEAN INNER YOUR EYE, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE -- CLEANER IN YOUR EYE.

AND THEN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS ARE TYPICALLY THINGS THAT WE DON'T LOCK UP YOU.

DON'T LOCK AWAY YOUR DEODORANT OR YOUR SHAMPOO OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, SO THERE'S STUFF THAT IS OUT AND ABOUT AND LITTLE KIDS CAN'T EASILY -- CAN EASILY GET INTO THOSE.

>>> J YOU ONE OF THE REALLY NEATLY THINGS ABOUT THE WAY THIS IS JUCHED NATIONALLY IS THAT THERE'S ON ONE PHONE NUMBER.

IT'S NOT A DIFFERENT PHONE NUMB FOR EVERY TOWN OR EVERY STATE.

SO HOW DOES THAT WORK?

IS THERE AN EQUIVALENT TO YOUR OPERATION IN EVERY STATE?

>> Bruce Anderson: NOT EVERY STATE BUT IT WORKS OUT TO BE ABOUT EVERY STATE FROM A TOTAL NUMBERS PERSPECTIVE.

THERE ARE 55 POISON CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE ALL ARE SORT OF GOVERNED I GUESS FROM A PROFESSIONAL STANDPOINT -- STANDARDS PERSPECTIVE BY ONE ORGANIZATION, AMERICA'S POISON CENTERS, AND WE ALL COLLECT DATA IN VERY MUCH THE SAME WAY.

WE'RE ALL STAFFED VERY SIMILARLY, NOT ENTIRELY THE SAME.

BUT WE'RE ALL INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEY EXIST THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

SOME OF THE STATES THAT HAVE RELATIVELY SMALL POPULATIONS MAY CONTRACT WITH ANOTHER STATE TO PROVIDE POISON CENTER SERVICES, AND SOME LARGE POPULATION STATES HAVE MULTIPLE POISON CENTERS.

SO TEXAS HAS SIX.

FLORIDA HAS THREE.

CALIFORNIA HAS FOUR.

ET CETERA.

BUT DELAWARE DOESN'T HAVE ONE.

>> Jeff: AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WRITE DOWN THE NUMBER BECAUSE IF YOU JUST GOOGLE POISON CONTROL, THAT NUMBER COMES UP.

ANGEL, HOW DO PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THEY CALL THAT NUMBER, WHEN THEY CALL 911?

>> Angel Bivins: WELL, IF THE PERSON IS NOT HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING, IF THEY'RE AWAKE, IF THEY'RE NOT HAVING SEIZURES, THOSE ARE TIMES THAT YOU WOULD CALL THE POISON CENTER.

OBVIOUSLY IF SOMEONE IS NOT BREATHING OR YOU CAN'T WAKE THEM UP, THAT'S A 911 CALL.

BUT PRETTY MUCH, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE AWAKE AND ALERT, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND BE THAT FIRST CALL, AND THEN HELP DECIDE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN MANAGE RIGHT ON SCENE OR IF WE NEED TO GET EVEN 911 INVOLVED OR IF THEY CAN SELF-TRANSPORT TO A HOSPITAL.

>> Jeff: HOW OFTEN IS SOMEBODY CALLING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T REMEMBER IF THEY TOOK A PILL AND THEY TOOK A SECOND ONE SO MAYBE THEY'VE UNINTENTIONALLY OVERDOSED ON SOMETHING OR TAKEN A PILL THAT WAS MEANT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE?

YANK THAT'S PRETTYION DNCH.

>> Bruce Anderson: THAT'S PRETTY COMMON.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE OLDER POPULATION NOT ONLY ARE THERE MANY MORE ARE OF THEM NOW THAN THERE WERE 20 YEARS AGO.

THAT'S ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION.

AND OLDER FOLKS IN GENERAL TAKE MORE MEDICINE HAD AN THE YOUNGER FOLKS.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT WE HAVE SEEN A INCREASING NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT YES THEIR MEDICATION, WHETHER THEY HAVE TAKEN THEM OR NOT, BUT WE ALSO HEAR SITUATIONS ABOUT YOUNGER FAMILIES.

IF YOUR CHILD WAKES UP AND HAS A FEVER AND ONE OF THE PARENTS WAKES UP AND SAYS WITH OH, OKAY, I GUESS I'D BETTER GIVE THEM SOMETHING FOR THE FEVER, AND THEN THE OTHER PARENT WAKES UP TEN MINUTES LATER, FEELS THE CHILD'S FOREHEAD SAYS, OH, I THINK THEY HAVE A FEVER, LET ME MAKE SURE I GET HEM SOMETHING FOR THAT FEVER, THOSE KIND OF SITUATIONS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.

>> Jeff: AND I GUESS MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE RISK OF TYLENOL OR ACETAMINOPHEN, BUT MAYBE THAT'S NOT EVERYBODY.

SO THE MAXIMUM DOSE ON THAT IS FAIRLY CRITICAL, RIGHT?

>> Angel Bivins: YOU WANT TO FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS AT ALL TIMES.

AND MAKE SURE YOU DON'T STEER OUTSIDE.

ACETAMINOPHEN, TYLENOL HAS MADE THE NEWS, BUT BUT WHEN IT'S TAKEN EXACTLY AS DIRECTED, IT'S PERFECTLY SAFE, AS ARE MOST -- ALL OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINES AND PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES.

YOU GET INTO TROUBLE WHEN YOU FEEL YOU HAVE A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE THAT MEANS THAT THAT LABEL WAS NOT MEANT FOR YOU.

>> Bruce Anderson: AND ONE OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES WITH ACETAMINOPHEN, THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN TYLENOL, IS THAT IT'SCO FORMULATED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS.

IT'S NOT ONLY SOMETHING BY ITSELF BUT IT'S ALSO A COMPONENT OF SOMETHING LIKE NYQUIL.

IT'S ALSO A COMPONENT IN MANY MEDICINES THAT ARE USED TO TREAT PAIN.

SO IT CAN BE FOUND IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS, AND PEOPLE CAN INADVERTENTLY GET EXPOSED TO WAY MORE THAN THEY SHOULD.

>> Jeff: I'M CURIOUS WHAT SORT OF CALLS WERE YOU GETTING DURING THE HEAT OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN THERE WERE, LET'S CALL IT, SOME FAD TREATMENTS GOING AROUND, SOME BAD INFORMATION ON DIFFERENT SUBSTANCES, DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS.

DID YOU SEE A LOT OF THAT?

>> Angel Bivins: WE TRIED TO GET AHEAD OF THAT, SO WHEN WE WOULD HEAR THINGS ON TV, WE WOULD PUT OUT STATEMENTS SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO USE PRODUCTS EXACTLY AS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE, SO CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR SURFACES, YOU WANT TO JUST GO AHEAD AND USE ON SURFACES AND NOT TAKE THEM INTERNALLY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT WE DID GET A FAIR AMOUNT OF HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCT CALLS AT THE TIME AND HAND SANITIZER CALLS JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE SO PREVALENT IN THE HOMES AND EVERYBODY WAS USING THEM THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT CLEANING PRODUCTS, BLEACH AND HAND SANITIZERS.

>> Jeff: FEELS LIKE IT WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO THAT THE LAUNDRY POD THING WAS IN THE NEWS.

MAYBE -- MAYBE THAT'S WHEN THEY CAME OUT & , AND THEY'RE SMALL AND THEY'RE BRIGHT AND COMFORTABLE, AND MAYBE THE LITTLE KIDS, THEY LOOK LIKE SOMETHING YOU WOULD EAT.

I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT?

AND IS IT STILL GOING ON?

>> Bruce Anderson: CERTAINLY IT'S STILL GOING ON, AND LITTLE KIDS WILL GET ACCESS AND EXPLORE, THAT'S PART OF THE WAY THEY LEARN ABOUT THEIR ENVIRONMENT IS YOU KNOW GOING AROUND AND PLAYING WITH THINGS AND SOMETIMES THEY PUT STUFF IN THEIR MOUTH AND ESPECIALLY IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT SORT OF COULD BE CANDY.

THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE IT A SHOT AND BITE DOWN ON IT.

AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE SEE WITH THESE KINDS OF SUBSTANCES IS THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE ENCLOSED IN THAT PACKET, WHEN YOU BITE DOWN, IT CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE THE CLEANERS AND OTHER PRODUCTS THAT ARE MIXED INTO THAT, THAT PACKET TO SORT OF SHOOT INTO THE BACK OF THE THROAT AND GET MORE SENSITIVE AREAS AND GET INTO AREAS THAT ARE NOT AS LIKELY TO GET ENCOUNTERED IF SOMEBODY JUST TAKES A SIP OF REGULAR OLD DISH DETERGENT OR LAUNDRY DETERGENT.

THEY'RE ALSO VERY, VERY CONCENTRATED, SO THAT SORT OF ONE-TWO PUNCH MEANS THAT THERE ARE KIDS THAT CAN GET VERY, VERY ILL FROM INGESTING LAUNDRY PODS OR LAUNDRY PACKS.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU DO AS A PARENT?

FIRST THING I WOULD DO IS PANIC.

THEN I WOULD THINK -- I REMEMBER SOMETHING ABOUT MILK.

AND -- OR WATER.

LET'S WASH THIS OUT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

IS THAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO?

>> Angel Bivins: THAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU DO.

IF THE CHILD IS OLD ENOUGH TO KIND OF RINSE OUT THEIR MOUTH AND SPIT OUT THE WATER THAT YOU'RE RINSING WITH, THAT'S GREAT, BUT IF NOT JUST RINSING IT DOWN INTO THE STOMACH IS USUALLY FINE.

NOTHING IS MAGIC.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE MILK FOR EVERYTHING.

USUALLY IT'S JUST AN AGE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF SOMETHING TO WASH THE SUBSTANCE DOWN WILL DO THE TRICK.

THAT'S USUALLY OUR FIRST FIRST AID ITEM FOR INGESTION AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE, GIVEN THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PERSON AND THE SUBSTANCE.

>> Bruce Anderson: BUT ALWAYS CALL.

THERE'S A RESOURCE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

JUST CALL.

IT'S 8222-1222.

>> Angel Bivins: AND REMEMBER WE HAVE PHARMACISTS AND NURSES THAT ARE GOING TO ANSWER THOSE CALLS.

THEY'RE NOT VOLUNTEERS.

THEY'RE NOT ROBOTS.

IT'S NOT A PHONE TREE, DEFINITELY NOT A PHONE TREE, AND IMHIEWR NOTE GOING TO SAY IF IT'S THIS PRESS 1, IF THAT I IT'S THAT, PRESS 2.

YOU ARE GOING TO BE TO GET A PERSON RIGHT AWAY AND THAT'S A PHARMACIST IRE NURSE.

>> Jeff: THAT'S A TREMENDOUS SERVICE.

FROM THE CALLS YOU'VE TAKEN OVER THE YEARS AND FROM TALKING TO YOUR COLLEAGUES AN THE COUNTRY, IF YOU WANTED TO BOIL DOWN A COUPLE OF PIECES OF ADVICE FOR PEOPLE AT HOME, FOR PARENTS OR NOT, WHAT SHOULD EVERYBODY KEEP IN MIND?

>> Angel Bivins: I MEAN, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS PROGRAM OUR NUMBER IN YOUR MOBILE PHONE.

IT'S THE SAME NUMBER.

WE'LL REACH A POISON CENTER ANYWHERE IN THE U.S., U.S.

TERRITORY.

SO IT'S JUST A NO-BRAINER.

PROGRAM THAT 1-800-222-1222.

CALL IT BONUS CONTROL, POISON CENTER.

DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU CALL IT.

IF IT'S IN YOUR PHONE, THAT WAY IF YOU'RE ON VACATION, IF YOU'RE AT THE PARK AND THE KIDS EAT'S BERRY OR SOMETHING, YOU HAVE THE PHONE NUMBER ALREADY READY TO GO.

SPEAKING TO AN EXPERT.

SO IT'S THE MAIN THING.

WE DON'T NEED ANYTHING ELSE IN A FIRST AID KIT.

YOU JUST NEED THE PHONE NUMB.

>> Jeff: ANGEL AND BRUCE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANNIVERSARY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> Angel Bivins: THANK YOU.

>> Bruce Anderson: THANKS FOR HAVING ME US.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK WITH FRIDAY ON "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00.

NOW FOR ALL OF ON US MPT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN MAP