Ladders

1
HAZMAT REFRESHER
BOONE COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
CHEMICAL SUICIDE
2
(No Transcript)
3
Purpose
Provide firefighters with a guideline for
identifying key components of a chemical suicide
and then tools to handle those incidents
4
Not just your typical Emergency 32B03 MAN
DOWN UNK PROBLEM 60D4O GAS ODOR INSIDE
5
USE CAUTION
6
BE ON YOUR TOES

• Unconscious Individuals
• Tape over vents, doors, and windows
• Suicide Note
• Posted Warning to First Responders of Present
  Danger
• Chemical containers in and around the vehicle or
  room
• Smell of Rotten Eggs

7
H2S
Common Name HYDROGEN SULFIDE DOT Number UN
1053 NAERG Code 117 CAS Number
7783-06-4 Hazard rating NJDHSS
NFPA FLAMMABILITY - 4 REACTIVITY -
0 FLAMMABLE -EXPLOSIVE
8
Chemicals Used

• Include but NOT limited to

• Bonide Sulfur Spray- Insecticide
• Hydrochloric (Muriatic) Acid (Pool Chemical)
• Toilet Bowl Cleaner
• Laundry Detergent

9
Mechanism of Action

• How it works

• Naturally Produced in the Body

• Acts as an irritant and chemical asphyxiant
• Acts as a relaxant of smooth muscle---Vasodilator
• Mitochondrial Poison (Similar to Cyanide)
• Prevents oxygen transport by binding with
  hemoglobin in red blood cells
• Once in the body it is rapidly distributed to
  various organs
• CNS, Lungs, Liver, etc.

• High values present in people who have
• Alzheimers Disease
• Down Syndrome
• Type 1 Diabetes

10
Interventions

• Set Parameters
• Establish a HOT zone
• 100 meters minimum
• Emergency Decon?
• EMS
• High Flow 02
• H2S acts like Cyanide poisoning and binds with
  hemoglobin

IDLH 100 ppm 700 ppm 1 breath DEATH
11
Whats that Smell?

• Plant and Animal Breakdown
• Swamps / Bogs
• Hot Springs
• Waste Disposal
• Sewers
• Paper Manufacturers
• 0.13 ppm

12

• Sugar Creek, MO Dec. 22, 2009
• A man used hydrogen cyanide chemicals to kill
  himself in a confined pickup truck.
• Four responders and a family member were exposed
  to the toxic gases from inside the vehicle.
• All five were just taken to the hospital as a
  precaution.
• No warning note was found on the truck.
• The man worked in a lab and had access to
  cyanide.
• Two containers were found in the truck