Bradley County EMS to begin carrying CYANOKIT

Bradley County EMS announced today that it is now carrying CYANOKIT® (hydroxocobalamin) on select response units, adding an important treatment option for known or suspected cyanide poisoning.

The addition strengthens the emergency response partnership between Bradley County EMS, Cleveland TN Fire Department, and Bradley County Fire and Rescue, improving care options for both civilian patients and firefighters who may be exposed to toxic smoke and gases during structure fires and related incidents.

“When a structure fire occurs, our focus is always on protecting lives in our community. Smoke inhalation and toxic gases can be just as dangerous as the fire itself, and the addition of the Cyanokit medication gives our responders another critical tool to combat those hidden dangers,” said Cleveland Fire Chief Chris Bates. “Studies such as the Firefighter Rescue Survey have shown that this medication can significantly improve survival for fire victims. With Bradley County EMS adding Cyanokit to their trucks, we are strengthening the care our Cleveland Fire Department firefighters and EMS partners provide, giving our residents the best possible chance at survival when they need us most.”

In some fires, the smoke can contain cyanide, a fast-acting poison that can make someone crash quickly. It’s not just a breathing problem, cyanide can block the body from using oxygen the right way, even when a patient is receiving oxygen. CYANOKIT works like a “cyanide sponge.” It binds to cyanide in the bloodstream and converts it into a form the body can safely eliminate. That helps the body start using oxygen normally again and gives responders and hospital teams valuable time to continue treatment and get the patient to definitive care.

“As Fire Chief, the safety, health, and long-term well-being of our firefighters remains a top priority,” said Bradley County Fire Chief Jeff Stewart. “Firefighters are routinely exposed to hazardous smoke and toxic byproducts of combustion during fireground operations, placing them at risk for serious smoke inhalation injuries, including potential cyanide exposure. I fully support having Cyanokit (hydroxocobalamin) available as a treatment option for our firefighters through our EMS partners. Early access to this antidotal therapy for suspected cyanide toxicity has been shown to improve outcomes in patients suffering from toxic smoke inhalation, particularly in enclosed-structure fire environments.”

“This is a big win for the whole response system,” said Adam Lewis, Director of Bradley County EMS. “This isn’t just about the public, it’s also about protecting the firefighters who run toward the danger. CYANOKIT gives our crews another tool for the rare situations where toxic smoke exposure may be life-threatening. When we strongly suspect cyanide poisoning, we can treat in the field, coordinate with fire crews on scene, and give the hospital a clear heads-up so care stays seamless from the scene of the fire, all the way to the emergency room.”

Bradley County EMS will continue working side-by-side with Cleveland Fire and Bradley County Fire Rescue to keep this capability ready and coordinated when it’s needed most. Director Lewis closed by saying, “This is a tremendous step forward for our community, because the same smoke that threatens a family inside a home can also threaten the firefighter going in after them, and today we’re better prepared to protect both.”

Bradley County EMS is grateful to Clay Sneed (CFD) and Noah Cripe (BCFR) for bringing all three departments together on this. And to Dr. Dax Spencer, Bradley County EMS Medical Director, for his support and direction of this drug's use in the field.

For more information, visit https://cyanokit.com/