The Cyanide Poisoning Treatment Coalition (CPTC) is a joint nonprofit venture of seven emergency medical services and hazardous materials organizations to study the consequences of cyanide poisoning. The Ohio-based CPTC President, Donald Walsh, said the coalition closely examines cyanide poisoning factors in the United States because they are overlooked and, in some cases, instances of poisoning are not recognized or treated.

The Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider cyanide an ideal terrorist weapon that can degrade critical infrastructures and serve as a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD). Extensive transport of the chemical on highways and railways makes it readily accessible to adversaries. Additionally, cyanide can be found widely used in industry and household products.

When products containing carbon and nitrogen burn, they produce hydrogen cyanide, which is the gaseous form of cyanide. Even when a fire smolders, the products break down and emit fumes that can be deadly if inhaled. This is particularly dangerous to public safety personnel, who are the foremost among the critical infrastructures of response organizations. Such is why responders must consistently and properly utilize their self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), while ensuring adequate ventilation throughout the operation. Furthermore, many emergency service organizations recommend medical screening of first responders potentially exposed to hydrogen cyanide.

Educational programs and tools to help the responder community improve its preparedness and early recognition of cyanide poisoning can be seen at the coalition's website: http://www.cyanidepoisoning.org.