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  • Essay / Chemical Suicide: A Danger to First Responders

    As first responders, police officers may often encounter many different instances where a person may be unconscious inside a vehicle. Usually, upon arrival, the officer will attempt to make contact with the subject to investigate the situation. Often, the officer discovers that the person has a medical condition, is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or simply has not gotten enough sleep (Randall, 2011). However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend in the United States that affects the safety of first responders. In this trend, people release chemicals into confined spaces, such as a vehicle, to commit suicide. Chemical suicides are very dangerous to anyone nearby because the fumes are extremely toxic (Oreshan and Stevens, 2011). Persons attempting to rescue a suicidal subject may be at risk of exposure, which could result in serious injury or death. As a first responder, it is important to understand the growing threat of chemical suicides and how they are commonly committed, warning signs and proper safety procedures to use, as well as treatments for this type of exposure chemical. in Japan in 2007, and since then, more than 2,000 cases have been recorded in the country (Oreshan and Stevens, 2011). Slowly, this method of suicide has been steadily increasing in the United States since 2008, where at least 72 known cases have been documented (Goode, 2011). Of these cases, 2 took place in 2008, 9 in 2009, 36 in 2010 and at least 27 cases by mid-2011 (Scoville, 2011). Although these figures represent only a tiny fraction of the number of suicides... middle of paper... 2010). When treating hydrogen sulfide exposure, nitrite treatment may be included to aid recovery (Oreshan and Stevens, 2011). If exposed to hydrogen cyanide, the individual should also receive a specific cyanide antidote kit (Oreshan & Stevens, 2011). Overall, chemical suicides are a threat that is unfortunately expected to continue to increase throughout the United States. It is essential to maintain training as well as communicate to first responders about the dangers they pose. Every first responder should be educated on how these suicides are committed, as well as the warning signs, proper safety procedures, and treatments to use if they are encountered. The more this information circulates, the more likely it is to limit injuries and deaths associated with this type of secondary chemical exposure...