CHEMICAL RESPONSE
to medical or morgue personnel. If still alive they must be treated by personnel in proper
POINTS FOR RESPONSE (left-to-right) Visually observe interior of vehicle before opening doors; Check around
windows and door frames for vapours before entering the premises; Remove victims to an outside area for treatment or before placing in body bags. Other indicators for specific locations are, for vehicles, tape over vents and windows and empty containers of chemicals in or around the vehicle. For dwellings, other persons from inside the house complaining of difficulty breathing and the smell of rotten eggs or sewer gas in the area and gets stronger as you approach the target residence.
and hydrogen cyanide. Acid sources include muriatic acid; sulphuric acid (drain cleaners); household disinfectant; household toilet bowl cleaner; acid bowl cleaner, and some shower, bathtub, tile and stonework cleaners. Sulphur and cyanide sources include artist oil paints, anti-dandruff shampoos, pesticides, latex paints; garden fungicides and lime sulphur.
Response rules Basic protocols must be followed when approaching. Always assume the worst so that you can work to solve the problem. Don’t be John Wayne and rush in before assessing the scene. John Wayne is dead and can’t do anyone any good. Rash actions by responders can not only endanger bystanders but themselves as
Hydrogen cyanide Description
Molecular formula
Molecular weight
Density HCN well. Breaking a window on a vehicle or to a
room filled with H2S is definitely not a good idea unless precautions are taken. Proper PPE must be worn by any responders in the hot zone surrounding the incident and possible victims moved upwind before any entry can be attempted.
These instances must be considered a
crime scene until proper authorities determine otherwise. Other than ventilating (airing out the scene) nothing should be moved and all effort to prevent further contamination of the scene must be taken. Chemical suicides represent an unusual aspect with regards to the victims (if they are still breathing), or their bodies. Neither can just be transported as they will be off-gassing and can cause fatalities
PPE while being given O2 to prevent further exposure. Both the living and deceased victims must be monitored to determine when it is safe for unprotected personnel to work with them - whether it is treatment and transport to a hospital or removal to a morgue. Chances are sooner or later every responder
will encounter a situation likes this. This article was not written to set policy but merely to make you stop and think and plan before to act instinctively. Remember what I stated: Don’t be a John Wayne, he is dead.
Bluish-white liquid, colourless gas
Odour
threshold Odour
description 27.03
Exposure route
0.94 (lighter than air) Signs & Symptoms
Auto-ignition temperature
Solubility Notes 538ºC (1000ºF)
Vapour pressure 630 mm Hg @ 20ºC (68º F)
Miscible in water, alcohol, slightly soluble in ether
Death by inhalation can occur quickly at low levels
0.58 ppm
Bitter almond (may not be detected by smell
Inhalation, absorption
Respiration/ depth change, confusion, asphyxia
LEL/UEL 5.6%, 40% IDLH 50 ppm
Detection PID with 13.6 eV lamp
Notes
Hydrogen sulphide Description Colourless gas
Molecular formula
Molecular weight
Density H2S 34.08
1.19 (= 20% heavier than air
Auto- ignition
temperature
Vapour pressure
Solubility
15, 600 mm Hg @ 25ºC (77º F)
Soluble in water, hydrocarbon
solvents, ether and ethanol
Death by inhalation can occur quickly at low levels
CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL & NUCLEAR WARFARE | 2012/02 | 81 IDLH Detection 100 ppm
PID with 10.6 eV lamp
260ºC (500ºF)
Don’t be John Wayne and rush in before assessing the scene. John Wayne is dead and can’t do anyone any good.
Odour
threshold Odour
description
Exposure route
Signs & Symptoms LEL/UEL Inhalation
Irritation of respiration system & eyes, apnoea, coma
4%, 44% 0.77 ppm Rotten eggs
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