Recent Suicides Emphasize Need For Questions

A double suicide in England accomplished by mixing household chemicals inside a parked car has re-emphasized the critical role of dispatchers in handling citizens calls of such incidents. UK police say the man and woman were strangers who met in-person just hours before they posted warning signs on the inside of the cars windows, mixed chemicals in buckets and were then fatally overcome. Several other incidents have occurred around the world, including one in Japan that overcame 80 passersby. The chemicals used present an extreme health hazard to first responders, who might unknowingly open the door to a car, building or room, and be exposed to the lethal gas. The most common gases involved are hydrogen cyanide or hydrogen sulfide, both very toxic when inhaled. Law enforcement says that almost universally, the participants post warning signs (right) for passersby or first responders, warning them of the lethal atmosphere inside. Also possibly visible are buckets or open containers of chemicals. The signs or containers could provide clues which 911 callers would provide when calling to report a suspicious vehicle or other situation.

A similar incident occurred in Dec. 2009 in Sugar Creek (Mo.), and four firefighters were overcome by hydrogen cyanide created and released inside a pickup truck (containers in photo to right).

Download (pdf) a collection of reference, response and call-handling information for chemical suicides.