Citation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 2000; 49(45): 1021-1024.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, (in public domain), Publisher U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11098778

Abstract

Methamphetamine, a central nervous system stimulant, is manufactured in illicit laboratories using over-the-counter ingredients. Many of these ingredients are hazardous substances that when released from active or abandoned methamphetamine laboratories can place first responders at risk for serious injuries and death. In 16 states, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry maintains the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system to collect and analyze data about the morbidity and mortality associated with hazardous substance-release events. Based on events reported to HSEES during 1996-1999, this report describes examples of events associated with illicit methamphetamine laboratories that resulted in injuries to first responders in three states, summarizes methamphetamine-laboratory events involving injured first responders, and suggests injury prevention methods to protect first responders.