Since situational awareness is half of staying alive, I thought this might be of interest to ETS members who travel farther afield.

There are reports of a particularly nasty insecticide (aluminum phosphide) being used to kill bedbugs in tourist hotels (particularly in Asia). If humans are carelessly/accidentally exposed, the effects are rapid and potentially fatal, and there is no antidote.

The source linked here is Wired!, so you can judge the credibility for yourself; but other news outlets have picked this up as well.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2014/03/dead-tourists-and-a-dangerous-pesticide/

I'm not sure what average travellers could do to protect themselves, though.

Shortly after you posted this article, I noticed a news item about a hotel in Berkeley that had to be evacuated and hazmat called in because someone committed suicide by chemical and I was thinking, "Did someone read this article and get the idea to...?" Seemed crazy, but copycats often do crazy things.

Turns out, it was a different chemical (sodium azide). The woman was in her 80's. Probably no connection to this story at all.

But back to the story. Scary to think that you can't detect it until it has already poisoned you and your body is shutting down.

In some countries 'chemical suicide' is not uncommen. Usually they are kind enough to out down a warning sign for bystanders/first responders...

True, even killing yourself using a drug overdose is a "chemical suicide" when you think about it. This lady did leave a note, which is why the building was evacuated and hazmat was called in.

Not very far from me this week.

MARION -- Marion Police have released more information about a hazardous materials incident on Mechanic Street.

Police say they were called to 1003 S. Mechanic Street around 10:35 p.m. Thursday for an apparent suicide.

"The Marion Police Department was notified that there was a sign on the inside of a vehicle indicating that a poisonous gas was used," the department stated in a release Friday morning.

Investigators identified the substance as hydrogen sulfide. All hazardous materials have been removed.

Police are not releasing the man's name at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

http://www.wsiltv.com/news/local/Possible-Hazmat-Situation-in-Marion-251353011.html