Cyanide Poisoning

Call 911 if: 

• You are sure the person was exposed to cyanide.

If you are not sure it is cyanide, call Poison Control at 800-222-1222.

Treat the person as follows, depending on whether cyanide was inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin:

1. Treat Inhalation or Ingestion

• Get the person to fresh air immediately.
• If you can't get away from the area where cyanide gas is, stay low to the ground.
• If the person has difficulty breathing or has stopped breathing, do hands-only CPR:
• For a child, start CPR for children.
• For an adult, start adult CPR.
• Do not do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

2. Treat Skin Exposure

• Avoid touching a person whose skin has been exposed to cyanide; only emergency personnel with special protective clothing should have direct contact with the victim, as secondary contamination is possible.

3. Treat Eye Exposure
Remove the person's contact lenses or glasses.

• Immediately irrigate eyes with plain water for at least 10 minutes.
• Put contact lenses in a plastic bag for emergency personnel to dispose of.
• Glasses may be used after washing with soap and water.

4. Follow Up

• At the hospital, the person will be treated with antidotes and oxygen.

SOURCES:

CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response: "Facts About Cyanide."

Edward P. Krenzelok, PharmD, FAACT, DABAT, director Pittsburgh Poison Center & Drug Information Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Gordon J. Vanscoy, PharmD, MBA., CACP, associate professor, Pharmacy and Therapeutics, University of Pittsburgh.

Health and Safety Executive: "Cyanide poisoning -- New recommendations on first aid treatment."

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: "Hydrogen Cyanide Fact Sheet."

University of Melbourne: "Faculty of Science: School of Chemistry -- Safety."

Centers for Disease Control, Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry.