DISASTER! - Homeland Security and Emergency Management ...

POISON - INHALED BY BREATHINGReview TERRORISM (in Section 2) for information, signs & symptoms, andtreatment on several poisonous chemical and biological agents that couldbe inhaled from humans’ or critters’ wet or dried body fluids, from soil, orfrom powders, gas, mist, or vapors.Things to watch for…Strong odors or fumesFind the source of odor or fumes (be aware of threat)Difficulty in breathing or dizzyWhat to do…• Be aware - make sure it’s safe…then ask what happened.• Get victim out to fresh air.• Avoid breathing fumes - open windows & doors (if safe).• Call Poison Control Center or an ambulance.• If victim isn’t breathing consider doing Rescue Breathing- but ONLY if sure poison cannot be spread person to person.(see TERRORISM then BREATHING PROBLEMS)POISON - POISONOUS PLANTS (IVY, OAK, & SUMAC)Three common poisonous plants found in Canada and the U.S. include:Poison ivy - can grow as a shrub or vine and is found across most of Canadaand U.S. It has white or cream-colored berries (or flowers in Spring) andleaves are usually three leaflets to a stem but vary in color, size, shape andtexture around the world. [see illustration 3-4 on page 203]Poison oak - can grow as a shrub or vine and found throughout the Westand Southwest (very common in Oregon and California). It also varieswidely in shapes and colors but usually has distinctive shape of an oak leafand red fuzzy berries. The leaves usually come in leaflets of three to a stembut can be in groups of five or more. It is best to learn what it looks likewhere you live. [see illustration 3-5 on page 203]Poison sumac - is a tall shrub or small tree and mostly lives in standingwater (like swamps and peat bogs). It has whitish green berries and brightgreen, pointy leaves that grow 6 to 12 leaves in pairs along both sides ofeach stem plus one leaf on each tip. [see illustration 3-6 on page 204]All 3 of these plants have a sap called urushiol [oo-roo-she-ol] which is asticky, colorless oil that stains things black when exposed to air. This sap isin the leaves, berries, stems and roots of all 3 types and can stick aroundwww.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325201