DISASTER! - Homeland Security and Emergency Management ...

Things to avoid:• powder - white powdery substance in strange places• aerosol mists - could drift for miles / may be hard to see• contaminated food or water - don’t eat or drink anyfood or water that may have been exposed to agentsFeel sick...? - Many symptoms from biological agents take time to show upso watch family members for signs of illness.AFTER A BIOLOGICAL ATTACK:Don’t panic -- Listen - Stay calm and listen to radio, TV and officials to ...• Determine if your area is or was in danger.• Learn signs and symptoms of specific agent or disease.• Find out if medications or vaccines are being distributedby authorities and, if so, where you can get them.Feel sick...? - In most cases, people won’t be aware they have been exposedto an agent -- some cause immediate symptoms but many take a while toshow up so keep watching for signs of illness.Don’t go there - Do not return home until local authorities say it is safe.Don’t spread it - A person, critter, or item that has been exposed to adisease or biological agent may spread it so...• clean up - if your skin or clothing comes in contact witha suspected visible powder or liquid, wash with soap andwater to keep from spreading germs• store clothes & shoes - put exposed clothing and shoes intightly sealed containers without touching other materialsand call local authorities to ask how to get rid of them• strange symptoms - if unusual symptoms show up, get toa hospital or medical expert right away!• tell people you’ve been exposed - tell everyone whocomes in contact with you that you may have beenexposed to a biological agent• land and property - ask how to clean up (if needed)For more information about biological agents or bioterrorism, visit theCDC’s Emergency Preparedness & Response site at www.bt.cdc.gov orPublic Health Agency of Canada’s Emergency Preparedness site atwww.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ep-mu/index.html or call the CDC Public ResponseHotline at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or 1-888-232-6348 (TTY).108 www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325