Cyanide is a highly toxic chemical that can act quickly after being ingest. Inhibits cell function, preventing the cells from using oxygen, which can be fatal. Cyanide has a distinctive odor call bitter almond and can be found in many forms, including:
- Natural plant cyanide, Cyanogenic glycosides, are found in apricot seeds, black cherries, raw bamboo shoots, raw cassava tubers and leaves, etc.
- Hydrogen cyanide gas is a colorless gas that can be found in burning plastics, melamine, animal hair, and artificial leather. It is commonly found in fires.
- Cyanide salts are white crystals or powders, such as Sodium cyanide and Potassium cyanide. They are commonly use in industrial applications, metal plating, and chemical synthesis, such as flux, paint, and some insecticides. They are also found in some household chemicals, such as nail polish remover containing acetonitrile, and silver clean.
The effects of cyanide exposure can be divid into two types:
- Acute cyanide poisoning is characterize by immediate symptoms such as shortness of breath, abnormal circulation, cardiac arrest, ยูฟ่าเบท, cerebral edema, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
- Chronic cyanide poisoning is cause by exposure to small amounts of over a long period of time. Initial symptoms may include headache, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, rash, and other symptoms such as dilated pupils, cold body, weakness, and slow breathing. If left untreated, it can cause a slow or irregular heartbeat, the skin on the face and limbs turning purple, unconsciousness, and eventually death.
People who are poison will have a characteristic of cherry-red skin due to high blood oxygen levels, or dark purple skin, and almond-smelling breath if hydrogen cyanide is inhal.
First aid
- Skin contact: If the body comes into contact with, remove contaminat clothing by using scissors to cut the clothing into pieces and remove it from the body. This method will prevent the contaminat clothing from coming into contact. With other parts of the skin, such as the head. Others should not touch the body or clothing directly because they may also be poison. Then clean the body with soap and water to reduce the amount of toxins as much as possible before rushing to the hospital.
- Inhalation and Ingestion: If cyanide-contaminated air is inhal, leave the area. If you cannot leave the area, get down on the ground. If the victim has difficulty breathing or has stopped breathing, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and rush them to the hospital. Do not use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to avoid exposure to the poison.
- Eye contact: Remove glasses or contact lenses, then flush eyes continuously. With clean water for at least 10 minutes and go to the hospital for examination and treatment.
- Some items contaminated with may be reusable, but must be properly clean to remove the toxin before reuse. Contaminat contact lenses or clothing should be place in a seal plastic bag. And dispos of properly as advise by a professional.