1. Get the Victim Into Fresh Air
If inhaled, cyanide gas can still be in the area and cause more damage if you don't get the victim out quick. Get the victim clear of the area and out into fresh air, where he can breathe freely. If he's struggling, give him oxygen through a mask or give a chest massage to assist him. Do not give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Cyanide residue may be in his mouth and throat, and all you'll succeed in doing is giving yourself a dose of the poison.
2. Keep the Pulse Going
Monitor the victim's pulse and apply a cardiac massage to maintain her heart rate. As with breathing troubles, do not apply mouth-to-mouth techniques to a victim of cyanide poisoning. Monitor the pulse rate and call an ambulance immediately.
3. Remove Contaminated Clothes
Cyanide can also soak into the victim's clothes, representing a continued danger. Remove any clothes or anything else which may be stained with the cyanide. Wash the affected areas with plenty of soap and water to dilute the poison, and wear gloves if possible to keep from coming into contact with it.
4. Keep the Victim Still
Once the victim is out of the area containing cyanide, do not move him at all. Have him lie down and stay still. It will slow the poison a little bit and help you better manage the symptoms. Be sure to keep him warm as well. Lie him down on a coat or a blanket and if you have to take contaminated clothes off, cover him in something clean to ward off the chill.
5. Use a Cyanide Antidote Kit
This is also called the Pasadena Kit, and it should only be used by medical professionals except in cases of extreme emergencies. It uses three different drugs given in a specific sequence. Amyl nitrate is inhaled, and then the doctor gives the victim sodium nitrate and sodium thiosulfate intravenously. The first two drugs pull the cyanide away from the blood cells, while the last one boosts the body's natural ability to get rid of the poison. The drugs have significant side effects, however, and can cause problems of their own if not given in the proper amounts.
