First aid measures

The aim is to terminate exposure and support vital functions whilst medical help is being sought:

• protective clothing and breathing apparatus should be worn if hydrogen cyanide or liquid cyanide are involved
  
  
• if the patient is unconscious, establish an airway and give 100 % oxygen - if this is unavailable, employ expired air resuscitation; use of a Laerdal pocket mask is preferred to mouth to mouth contact if cyanide salts have been ingested
  
  
• remove all contaminated clothing
  
  
• wash skin thoroughly with soap and water
  
  
• give amyl nitrite by inhalation:
  • preferably, give 0.2 - 0.4 ml amyl nitrite via an Ambu bag; alternatively,
  • break one ampoule of amyl nitrite onto a cloth and hold under the patient's nose for 30 seconds in every minute - use a new ampoule every 3 minutes to a maximum of 6