Portsmouth Regional Hospital and Portsmouth Ambulances to Stock Cyanokit Antidote for Cyanide Poisoning

Portsmouth, NH, Jan. 12, 2009 -- The Emergency Department at Portsmouth Regional Hospital and the City of Portsmouth’s three ambulances will now stock the cyanokit antidote for cyanide poisoning. This is the only FDA approved treatment that when given to victims of suspected cyanide poisoning the cyanokit provides emergency first responders with a critical medication to treat patients immediately at the scene of a fire or other accident as well as in the hospital emergency room.

Studies have shown that cyanide, a common but often unrecognized toxic chemical in fire smoke, may play a significant role in causing the deaths of smoke inhalation victims.  In the United States, smoke inhalation is responsible for up to 10,000 civilian and firefighter deaths annually.

Portsmouth Regional Hospital and the Portsmouth Fire Department ambulances are the first in the state to readily stock the cyanokit.