Topic: Spit Hoods

The death of Daniel Prude in police custody has been reported as a "suffocation" caused by a hood placed on his head. However, the device used was a standard "spit hood" designed to protect officers and EMTs from biohazards. Toxicology reports suggest Prude may have died from complications related to drug use and "excited delirium," a state often encountered by first responders dealing with overdoses.

A letter from a firefighter/EMS producer describes a violent encounter with a drug-addicted patient who threatened to murder him while being rescued from a car wreck. The producer details the use of "spit hoods" and the increasing difficulty of treating patients on undetectable synthetic street drugs. The account portrays a "zombie-like" state among drug users that poses a constant threat to first responders.