[Federal Register: May 3, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 85)]
[Notices]               
[Page 24159-24160]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03my04-84]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-04-50]

 
Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404)498-1210.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E11, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.
    Proposed Project:
    Evaluation of the Poison Help Campaign to Enhance Public Awareness 
of the National Poison Toll-Free Number, Poison Center Access, and 
Poison Prevention--New--National Center for Injury Control and 
Prevention (NCIPC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Every day more than 6,000 calls about poison emergencies are placed 
to poison control centers (PCCs) throughout the United States. Although 
PCCs clearly save lives and reduce healthcare costs, the system that 
delivers care and prevents poisoning is comprised of more than 131 
telephone numbers and thousands of disjointed local prevention efforts. 
As a result public and professional access to an essential emergency 
service has been hampered by a confusing array of telephone numbers and 
by an inability to mount a full-fledged national poison center 
awareness campaign.
    The Poison Control Center Enhancement and Awareness Act of 2000 
(Pub. L. 106-174) was signed into legislation in February 2000 with the 
intent to provide assistance for poison prevention and to stabilize 
funding of regional PCCs. In October 1999, in response to the impending 
passage of this legislation, CDC and the Health Services Resource 
Administration (HRSA) began funding and administering a cooperative 
agreement with the American Association of Poison Control Centers 
(AAPCC). The agreement called for the establishment of a National 
Poison Prevention and Control Program. The purpose of this program is 
to support an integrated system of poison prevention and control 
services including: Coordination of all PCCs through development, 
implementation, and evaluation of standardized public education; 
development of a plan to improve national toxicosurveillance and data 
systems; and support of a national public service media campaign.
    The purpose of the national media campaign is to launch a national 
toll-free helpline entitled Poison Help (1-800-222-1222) that the 
general public, health professionals, and others can use to access 
poison emergency services and prevention information 24 hours a day, 
seven days a week. The campaign was launched nationally in January 2002 
with a special interest in targeting high-risk populations such as 
parents of children under age 6, older adults between 60-80 years of 
age, and underserved groups who are often not reached effectively 
through public health communication efforts.
    Two telephone surveys will be conducted to assess the reach and 
impact of campaign activities and the overall effectiveness of the 
awareness campaign. The High-Risk Survey will be conducted with parents 
of children under age 6 and older adults ages 60-80 to assess their 
awareness of the national toll-free number, awareness of PCCs and the 
services they provide, and poison prevention knowledge. The Helpline 
Caller Survey will be conducted with persons who have contacted a PCC 
to ascertain whether callers have seen or heard Poison Help prevention 
messages, their awareness of the 1-800-222-1222 number and how they 
learned of it, and how they rate the ease of accessing poison emergency 
services or prevention information. There is no cost to respondents.

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                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of       Number of        burden/      Total burden
                   Respondents                      respondents     responses/      respondents        hours
                                                                    respondents     (in hours)
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Callers to the Poison Help helpline.............             300               1           10/60              50
Parents of children under age 6.................             600               1            8/60              80

[[Page 24160]]


Adults (ages 60-80).............................             600               1            8/60              80
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............             210
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    Dated: April 26, 2004.
Alvin Hall,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-9934 Filed 4-30-04; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163-18-P