What do cyanide crystals look like

Do Not Show Again Close. Sign In. Services Explore How Do I Cyanide What is cyanide? Cyanide is a rapidly acting, potentially deadly chemical that can exist in various forms. Cyanide gas sometimes is described as having a "bitter almond" smell, but it does not always give off an odor, and not everyone can detect this odor.

Cyanide is also known by the military designations AN for hydrogen cyanide and CK for cyanogen chloride. Is cyanide fatal? Exposure to a large amount of cyanide by any route may cause respiratory failure, leading to death.

How do I protect myself and others from exposure to cyanide? First, get fresh air by leaving the area where the cyanide was released. Moving to an area with fresh air is a good way to reduce the possibility of death from exposure to cyanide gas. If the cyanide release was outside, move away from the area where the cyanide was released. If the cyanide release was indoors, get out of the building. If leaving the area that was exposed to cyanide is not an option, stay as low to the ground as possible.

Remove any clothing that has liquid cyanide on it. If possible, seal the clothing in a plastic bag, and then seal that bag inside a second plastic bag. Removing and sealing the clothing in this way will help protect people from any chemicals that might be on their clothes. If clothes were placed in plastic bags, inform either the local or state health department or emergency coordinators upon their arrival.

Do not handle the plastic bags. Rinse the eyes with plain water for minutes if they are burning or vision is blurred.

Wash any liquid cyanide from the skin thoroughly with soap and water. For more information on evacuation during a chemical emergency, see Facts About Evacuation. For more information on sheltering in place during a chemical emergency, see Facts About Sheltering in Place. If you think you may have been exposed to cyanide, you should remove your clothing, rapidly wash your entire body with soap and water, and get medical care as quickly as possible.

Removing your clothing: Quickly take off clothing that may have cyanide on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead of pulled over the head. If you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible. Washing yourself: As quickly as possible, wash any cyanide from your skin with large amounts of soap and water.

Washing with soap and water will help protect people from any chemicals on their bodies. If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contacts, remove them and put them with the contaminated clothing.

Do not put the contacts back in your eyes even if they are not disposable contacts. If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put your eyeglasses back on after you wash them. If you are wearing jewelry that you can wash with soap and water, you can wash it and put it back on. If it cannot be washed, it should be put with the contaminated clothing.

Disposing of your clothes: After you have washed yourself, place your clothing inside a plastic bag. Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing. An alternative method is to put the clothes in the bag using tongs, tool handles, sticks, or similar objects. Anything that touches the contaminated clothing should also be placed in the bag.

If you wear contacts, put them in the plastic bag, too. Seal the bag, and then seal that bag inside another plastic bag. Disposing of your clothing in this way will help protect you and other people from any chemicals that might be on your clothes. When the local or state health department or emergency personnel arrive, tell them what you did with your clothes.

The health department or emergency personnel will arrange for further disposal. Do not handle the plastic bags yourself. For more information about cleaning your body and disposing of your clothes after a chemical release, see Chemical Agents: Facts About Personal Cleaning and Disposal of Contaminated Clothing.

Cyanide is more harmful to the heart and brain than other organs because the heart and brain use a lot of oxygen. What are the signs and symptoms of cyanide exposure? People exposed to a small amount of cyanide by breathing it, absorbing it through their skin, or eating foods that contain it may have some or all of the following symptoms within minutes: Rapid breathing Restlessness Dizziness Weakness Headache Nausea and vomiting Rapid heart rate Exposure to a large amount of cyanide by any route may cause these other health effects as well: Convulsions Low blood pressure Slow heart rate Loss of consciousness Lung injury Respiratory failure leading to death What are the potential long-term health effects of cyanide?

Survivors of serious cyanide poisoning may develop delayed neurological effects. How can people can protect themselves and what should they do if they are exposed to cyanide? First, get fresh air by leaving the area where the cyanide was released. Moving to an area with fresh air is a good way to reduce the possibility of death from exposure to cyanide gas. If the cyanide release was outside, move away from the area where the cyanide was released.

If the cyanide release was indoors, get out of the building. If leaving the area that was exposed to cyanide is not an option, stay as low to the ground as possible. Remove any clothing that has liquid cyanide on it. If possible, seal the clothing in a plastic bag, and then seal that bag inside a second plastic bag.

Rinse the eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes if they are burning or vision is blurred. Wash any liquid cyanide from the skin thoroughly with soap and water. If cyanide is known to be ingested swallowed , do not induce vomiting or give fluids to drink.

Seek medical attention right away.