Cyanide Poisoning Treatment Coalition Awarded $394,000 Department of Homeland Security Grant to Protect Firefighters from Hydrogen Cyanide in Modern Day Fire Smoke

Training program includes appropriate air management practice for firefighters,
the correction of myths and misunderstandings about fire smoke, and instruction
about new antidotal treatment therapies for smoke inhalation victims.

INDIANAPOLIS, July 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Since January 1, 2010 the CPTC
has tracked 1,100 civilians treated for smoke inhalation, 413 smoke inhalation
deaths, and 125 firefighters who were transported for smoke inhalation
treatment. Contrary to popular belief, whether a civilian or a firefighter,
smoke inhalation isn’t a minor injury – it’s deadly.

Annually thousands of civilians die from smoke inhalation because they don’t
wear air masks to prevent smoke exposure from a fire they never thought would
strike. On the other hand, firefighters are exposed to smoke by profession – not
accidentally. According to Kevin Reilly, president of the CPTC and Ridgewood NJ
firefighter: “Firefighters have self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to
prevent smoke inhalation, but many firefighters don’t use air when they should,
and are therefore exposed to what we call, The Toxic Twins, CO and HCN, which
work synergistically to kill.”

Acute and chronic smoke exposure caused by firefighters not wearing and using
air is more than likely the cause of heart attacks, diseases and illnesses which
now plague the profession. In a message to fire service leaders Capt. Mike
Gagliano, Seattle Fire Department, said, “I can think of no greater hypocrisy
than fire service leaders berating politicians for not caring about firefighters
until one of us dies, while exhibiting the exact same behavior when they look
the other way and ignore shoddy air management practices in the hope that
nothing goes wrong inside the fire. Hope is not a plan. Air management is.”

Fire smoke myths and misunderstandings will also be corrected. “I recently heard
a firefighter state that smoke color is indicative of the presence of hydrogen
cyanide,” said Rob Schnepp, Chief of Special Operations for the Alamenda County
(CA) Fire Department. “That is absolutely not true. HCN and CO are colorless
gases. The last thing we need in the fire service is misinformation. Determining
whether HCN is or is not present on the fireground cannot be based on the color
of smoke. This training program guarantees firefighters will receive accurate
research and information from qualified and respected HCN and fire industry
experts,” said Schnepp.

First responders will also learn about the Cyanokit or Hydroxocobalamin, an
effective and safe antidote for acute cyanide poisoning from fire smoke. In
fact, it has saved the lives of several firefighters and civilians in the last
two years. “Clearly, this will be the most comprehensive live saving and
behavior changing HCN training program that exists. In addition, as more first
responders learn how to treat smoke inhalation with the Cyanokit, we anticipate
a reduction in the number of civilian smoke inhalation deaths,” said Shawn
Longerich, executive director. The program will officially launch at FDIC in
March, 2011.

For accurate information about smoke, please visit www.FireSmoke.org.

The Cyanide Poisoning Treatment Coalition is a non-profit organization
considered to be the international epicenter of SMOKE education for the fire
service. Prevention from exposure to hydrogen cyanide in modern day fire smoke,
early recognition and appropriate treatment are key components to firefighter
survival. For more information, please visit www.FireSmoke.org.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further
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SOURCE Cyanide Poisoning Treatment Coalition