Tag Archives: chemical suicide

Avoiding the Dangers in a Chemical Suicide Response

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Randall

On Monday in Boston, a BU pharmacology grad student committed suicide by lethal chemical.  Police and Fire department personnel responding to the apartment at 676 Massachusetts Ave. were in danger from highly toxic sodium azide, which has effects similar to cyanide.  Four police officers and two EMT’s were taken to the hospital for exposure to the chemical. I had just written an article on April 2 about a dangerous malathion suicide attempt, where first responders needed medical attention.  Last June, I wrote an article for BlueSheepdog called Chemical Suicides–A Safe Response.  I thought it very important to post that article on ThinBlueFlorida for obvious officer safety reasons. Police officers respond … Continue reading →

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Reminder in Margate of the Danger of Suicide and Chemicals

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Randall

An incident in Margate, FL yesterday is a good reminder for first responders to be wary of the presence of chemicals in suicide attempts.  A Coconut Creek man apparently attempted suicide by drinking the commercially available pesticide Malathion.  EMS workers arrived his home at about 0130 am to find him in his yard. When the man was transported to Northwest Medical Center in nearby Margate, he vomited up the chemical in the rescue unit and cause three paramedics to suffer dizziness, nausea, and headaches. At the Northwest ER, toxic fumes could still be smelled on the man.  He was isolated and the ER was shut down.  The Broward County Sheriff’s … Continue reading →

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