Hazardous Materials Incident Precautions

{{Crisis Communication |Crisis Communication Type=Website |Source=https://www.ready.gov/hazmat |Publishing Organisation=U.S. Department of Homeland Security |Event type=Hazardous Materials Incident |Disaster Management Phase=After, Before, During |Language=English |Content=Before an Incident

Many communities have Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) responsible for collecting information about chemicals and hazardous materials in the community and planning for accidents. These materials are available to the public upon request. Contact your local emergency management office for more information on LEPCs.

• Build an Emergency Supply Kit and include duct tape, scissors and plastic to cover doors, windows and vents.
• Make a Family Emergency Plan.
• Know how to operate your home’s ventilation system.
• Identify an above-ground shelter room with as few openings as possible.
• Read more about sheltering in place.

During an Incident

• Listen to local radio or television stations for detailed information and follow instructions carefully. * Remember that some toxic chemicals are odorless.
• Instructions may differ depending on the threat and risk of exposure.
  • Sometimes, it may be safer to shelter inside your home, other times it may be safer to evacuate.

If told to evacuate:

• If asked to evacuate, do so immediately.
• Quickly try to figure out which areas are affected or where the chemical is coming from, if possible, and get away immediately.
• If the chemical is inside your building, get out of the building without passing through the contaminated area, if possible.
• If you can't get out of the building or find clean air without passing through the affected area, move as far away as possible and shelter-in-place.

If told to stay indoors:

• Bring pets inside.
• Seek shelter in an internal room.
• Close and lock all exterior doors and windows.
• Close vents, fireplace dampers and as many interior doors as possible. Seal the room with duct tape and plastic sheeting.
• Turn off air conditioners and ventilation systems, or set ventilation systems to 100 percent recirculation so that no outside air is drawn into the building.
• Seal gaps under and around the following areas with wet towels, plastic sheeting, duct tape, wax paper or aluminum foil:
  • Doorways and windows
  • Air conditioning units
  • Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans
  • Stove and dryer vents with duct tape and plastic sheeting
• Take shallow breaths through a cloth or a towel if gas or vapors could have entered the building.
• Avoid eating or drinking any food or water that may be contaminated.

If outside when an incident occurs:

• Quickly decide what is the fastest way to find clean air.
• Move away immediately, in a direction upwind of the source.
• If in a car, keep car windows and vents closed and shut off the air conditioner and heater.
• Find the closest building to shelter-in-place.

After an Incident

• Do not leave the safety of a shelter to go outdoors, including to help others, until authorities say it is safe to do so.
• If you have evacuated, return home only when authorities say it is safe.
• If you are affected by a chemical agent and medical help is not immediately available, the best action is to decontaminate yourself and help others to do so, if possible.

How to decontaminate:

• Remove all clothing and other items in contact with your body.
• Cut off clothing normally removed over the head to avoid contact with the eyes, nose and mouth.
• Put contaminated clothing and items into a plastic bag and seal the bag.
• Remove eyeglasses or contact lenses.
• Put glasses in a pan of household bleach to decontaminate them and then rinse and dry.
• Wash hands with soap and water.
• If helping someone decontaminate, immediately wash your hands and other exposed skin afterwards.
• Flush eyes with water.
• Gently wash face and hair with soap and water before thoroughly rinsing with water.

• As soon as it is safe to do so, proceed to a medical facility for screening and professional treatment.

   Website
   https://www.ready.gov/public-spaces
   U.S. Department of Homeland Security
   [[Content::Take steps to prepare and protect yourself and help others in the event of a mass attack.

Types of Mass Attacks

• Individuals using firearms to cause mass casualties (active shooter)
• Individuals using a vehicle to cause mass casualties
• Individuals using homemade bombs to cause mass casualties
• Other methods used in mass attacks may include knives, fires, drones or other weapons.

Prepare BEFORE

• Stay alert. Always be aware of your environment and any possible dangers.
• If you see something, say something to local authorities.
  • That includes suspicious packages, people behaving strangely or someone using strange communications.
• Observe warning signs.
  • Signs might include unusual or violent communications, substance abuse, expressed anger or intent to cause harm.
    • These warning signs may increase over time.
• Have an exit plan.
  • Identify exits and areas to hide wherever you go, including work, school and special events.
• Learn lifesaving skills.
  • Take trainings on first aid to assist the wounded before help arrives.

Survive DURING: Run, Hide, Fight

• Run to Safety
  • Seek safety. Getting away from the attacker is the top priority.
  • Leave your belongings behind and get away.
  • Call emergency call number (112) when you are safe and describe the attacker, location and weapons.

• Cover and Hide
  • Cover and hide if you can’t evacuate.
  • Find a place to hide out of view of the attacker and put a solid barrier between yourself and the threat if possible.
  • Lock and block doors, close blinds and turn off lights.
  • Keep silent.

• Defend, Disrupt, Fight
  • Fight only as a last resort.
  • When you can’t run or cover, attempt to disrupt the attack or disable the attacker.
  • Be aggressive and commit to your actions.
  • Recruit others to ambush the attacker with makeshift weapons such as chairs, fire extinguishers, scissors, books, etc.
  • Be prepared to cause severe or lethal injury to the attacker.

• Help the Wounded
  • Take care of yourself first and then, if you are able, help the wounded get to safety and provide immediate care.
  • Call emergency call number (112) when it is safe for you to do so.

Be Safe AFTER

• When Law Enforcement Arrives
  • Remain calm and follow instructions.
  • Keep hands visible and empty.
  • Report to designated areas to provide information and get help.
  • Follow law enforcement’s instructions and evacuate in the direction they tell you to go. Listen to law enforcement for information about the situation.
  • Share updates as you can with family and friends.

Consider Seeking Professional Help

• Be mindful of your mental health.
  • If needed, seek help for you and your family to cope with the trauma.

Note: Use the translation feature of your browser]]

   Mass attacks
   After, Before, During
   English

View all Crisis Communication

Created: 26 September 2023
Last edited: 11 October 2023

Type:

Website

Publishing Organisation:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Languages

• English

Scenarios

• Mass attacks

Disaster Management Phase

After, Before, During

Take steps to prepare and protect yourself and help others in the event of a mass attack.

Types of Mass Attacks

• Individuals using firearms to cause mass casualties (active shooter)
• Individuals using a vehicle to cause mass casualties
• Individuals using homemade bombs to cause mass casualties
• Other methods used in mass attacks may include knives, fires, drones or other weapons.

Prepare BEFORE

• Stay alert. Always be aware of your environment and any possible dangers.
• If you see something, say something to local authorities.
  • That includes suspicious packages, people behaving strangely or someone using strange communications.
• Observe warning signs.
  • Signs might include unusual or violent communications, substance abuse, expressed anger or intent to cause harm.
    • These warning signs may increase over time.
• Have an exit plan.
  • Identify exits and areas to hide wherever you go, including work, school and special events.
• Learn lifesaving skills.
  • Take trainings on first aid to assist the wounded before help arrives.

Survive DURING: Run, Hide, Fight

• Run to Safety
  • Seek safety. Getting away from the attacker is the top priority.
  • Leave your belongings behind and get away.
  • Call emergency call number (112) when you are safe and describe the attacker, location and weapons.

• Cover and Hide
  • Cover and hide if you can’t evacuate.
  • Find a place to hide out of view of the attacker and put a solid barrier between yourself and the threat if possible.
  • Lock and block doors, close blinds and turn off lights.
  • Keep silent.

• Defend, Disrupt, Fight
  • Fight only as a last resort.
  • When you can’t run or cover, attempt to disrupt the attack or disable the attacker.
  • Be aggressive and commit to your actions.
  • Recruit others to ambush the attacker with makeshift weapons such as chairs, fire extinguishers, scissors, books, etc.
  • Be prepared to cause severe or lethal injury to the attacker.

• Help the Wounded
  • Take care of yourself first and then, if you are able, help the wounded get to safety and provide immediate care.
  • Call emergency call number (112) when it is safe for you to do so.

Be Safe AFTER

• When Law Enforcement Arrives
  • Remain calm and follow instructions.
  • Keep hands visible and empty.
  • Report to designated areas to provide information and get help.
  • Follow law enforcement’s instructions and evacuate in the direction they tell you to go. Listen to law enforcement for information about the situation.
  • Share updates as you can with family and friends.

Consider Seeking Professional Help

• Be mindful of your mental health.
  • If needed, seek help for you and your family to cope with the trauma.

Note:

Use the translation feature of your browser

Source

https://www.ready.gov/public-spaces