Chemical Suicide Risk Assessment for First Responders and the Public

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

When suicide rates by use of hydrogen sulfide chemicals began to rise nationwide, the County of San Diego Hazardous Incident Response Team (“HIRT”) evaluated risks to first responders and the public. The HIRT team created a training to disseminate the findings to other first responders and emergency dispatchers in order to save lives. Chemical suicides can occur by ingesting cyanide, pesticides, or inhaling inert or toxic gases. They originated in Japan in 2008 by using sulfur bath salts mixed with an acidic solution to generate hydrogen sulfide gas. Since then the “Detergent Suicide/Hydrogen Sulfide” method has become increasing popular. There have been growing numbers of detergent suicides in the United States and in other countries. But suicide is not the only concern. Hydrogen sulfide gas is a flammable gas that is toxic at low concentrations, making the residual gas a risk to the public and first responders. In Canada, three police officers were overcome by the hydrogen sulfide gas and transported to the hospital. In Florida, firefighters were exposed which resulted in several firefighters having to be transported to an area hospital. HIRT evaluated the potential risks associated with responding to hydrogen sulfide chemical suicides and subsequent waste treatment and disposal options. Safe operational guidelines were established, and tested with the goal of saving the lives of police, fire, paramedics and the public when responding to these types of chemical suicides. Safe and less expensive waste treatment and disposal options were also identified and evaluated. Ultimately the study achieved its goals of developing safer response practices and is now being shared throughout the region.