58 CIRCULAR 369, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Gas masks should be available. — Gas masks should always be worn 

 during fumigation with hydrocyanic acid gas, chloropicrin, or any 

 other quickly fatal fumigant, Ethylene oxide, methyl formate, 

 ethylene dichloride, carbon disulphide, and carbon tetrachloride, 

 either alone or in the combinations usually recommended for fumi- 

 gation work, are regarded as only slightly toxic to man as he ordi- 

 narily comes in contact with their vapors in fumigation work, and 

 gas masks are not usually employed unless the fumigators must re- 

 main exposed to their vapors for appreciable periods. 



Workmen should not be allowed to work in appreciable concen- 

 trations of methyl bromide without wearing masks. 



Continued exposure to any fumigant useful in insect control will 

 prove fatal to man. Every fumigator should, therefore, obtain in- 

 formation from the manufacturer of the fumigant he intends to use, 

 as well as profit from his own experience, concerning what is a safe 

 attitude to take toward the use of gas masks. Firms selling fumi- 

 gants should be consulted regarding suitable gas masks for protec- 

 tion from their products, or information can be had from the United 

 States Department of Agriculture. 



Never assume that a gas mask will protect. — Obtain definite as- 

 surance that it is equipped with a canister of chemicals prepared to 

 neutralize the vapor or vapors to be used. Attach a fresh, unused 

 canister to the mask unless the exact history of the one already 

 attached is known. Canisters for gas masks cost only about $2 each. 

 There is no need to take chances. Do not permit familiarity with 

 any dangerous fumigant to lead to criminal carelessness. 



FIRST AID FOR POISONING FROM HYDROCYANIC 



ACID GAS 



Inhaling hydrocyanic acid gas or absorbing it through the skin 

 is dangerous and must be avoided. If it is absorbed by the system, 

 prompt steps to counteract its action must be taken. Any one or 

 several of the following symptoms may indicate poisoning: 



(1) Weakness or palpitation of the heart. 



(2) Headache or dizziness. 



(3) Rushing of blood to the head- 



(4) Weakness or heavy feeling- in the limbs and joints. 



(5) Nausea and vomiting. 



(6) Difficulty in breathing, contraction of the chest. 



(7) Fainting and unconsciousness. 



If a fumigator feels that he is being affected, he should indicate 

 this to his coworker and together they should leave the building 

 and remove their masks in the fresh air. This makes certain that 

 the affected person reaches the fresh air safely. Men have been 

 known to start for the exit only to become unconscious en route, and 

 if this happens the assistance of the coworker is necessary. If on 

 reaching the outside he is found to be only slightly affected, he can 

 be left alone until he feels fully recovered, while the coworker, with 

 another of the fumigating crew, returns to complete the work. 



If, however, a fumigator has difficulty in walking, becomes un- 

 conscious, or is appreciably affected in other ways, he should be 

 hastily removed from the building to the open air and immediate 

 provision made to keep him warm. 



