Safety

Meth dangers for first responders

Emergency Management Alert, April 11, 2006

Meth dangers for first responders

The effects of methamphetamine on addicts is well documented, but what about the effect on first responders? Firefighters may have some protection if they're wearing their self-contained breathing apparatus, but what about EMTs? Police officers? Volunteers? People filming Cops?

According to the Drug Policy Informational Clearinghouse, they may have cause to worry. "Due to the creation of toxic waste at methamphetamine production sites, many first response personnel incur injury when dealing with the hazardous substances. The most common symptoms suffered by first responders when they raid meth labs are respiratory and eye irritations, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath."

The Clearinghouse is part of the Office of National Drug Policy, which in turn is a component of the Executive Office of the President. Among its many publications is a fact sheet on meth which details these

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