Volume 2   Issue 16         

Safety News

 By Ronald Porep

 

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 Thursday, March 20,  2003

Biological Terror

By the end of this week, the United States will likely be at war with Iraq – a Middle East nation accused of having weapons of mass destruction such as biological and nuclear weapons to be used against the United States and other nations and of supporting terrorists such as the al-Qaeda network which crashed two planes into the World Trade Center in New York City, another plane into the Pentagon in Washington DC and a fourth plane into a field in Pennsylvania because the passengers diverted the craft from the destination that the terrorists had planned for it.  

          Our attack on Iraq is expected to cause terrorists to attack targets in the United States in retaliation. There are several types of attacks we can expect.

            One type of attack we can expect is a biological attack which is the deliberate release of germs or other substances that can make you sick. Many agents must be inhaled, enter through a cut in the skin or eaten to make you sick.

            Unlike an explosion, a biological attack may or may not be immediately obvious. While it is possible that you will see signs of a biological attack, it is perhaps more likely that local health care workers will report a pattern of unusual illness or there will be a wave of sick people seeking emergency medical attention. You will probably learn of the danger through an emergency radio or TV broadcast, or some other signal used in your community. You might get a telephone call or emergency response workers may come to your door.

            But, maybe not right away. 

             If essential services such as communications and electricity are knocked out, it may be a while before you find out what is going on unless you have an emergency communications radio as outlined in our article on that subject. From any information sources you have, determine the following:

            Are you in the group or area authorities consider in danger?

            What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?

            Are medications or vaccines being distributed? Where? 

            Who should get them? 

            Where should you seek emergency medical care if you become sick? 

            In terrorist attacks, information can save your life. Being alert to your surroundings is another lifesaver. If you become aware of an unusual and suspicious release of an unknown substance nearby, it doesn't hurt to protect yourself.  Quickly get away. Cover your mouth and nose with layers of fabric that can filter the air but still allow breathing. Be prepared to improvise with what you have on hand to protect your nose, mouth, eyes and cuts in your skin. Anything that fits snugly over your nose and mouth, including any dense-weave cotton material, can help filter contaminants in an emergency.

            Still, something over your nose and mouth in an emergency is better than nothing.  If you feel sick or feel you were exposed to a dangerous substance enough to get sick, you may think that antibiotics can help you. 

            May be !  

  Maybe not!

            While antibiotics are often an appropriate treatment for the diseases associated with biological weapons, the specific drug must match the illness to be effective. One antibiotic, for example, may be appropriate for treating anthrax exposure, but is inappropriate for treating smallpox. All antibiotics can cause side effects including serious reactions.

Speak with your health care provider in advance about what makes sense for your family. A medical expert can also tell you in which cases treatment may be more hazardous than no treatment.

            With expert advice, use common sense in protecting yourself from a biological attack.

            Do not panic!! Do not automatically assume that you should go to an emergency room or that any illness is the result of the biological attack. The common cold or the flu may be just that and not a biological weapon.

            To avoid illnesses, use personal hygiene.

            Eat well.

            Get plenty of rest.

            Wash your hand frequently.

            Wear a mask to reduce spreading germs if you yourself are sick, or to avoid coming in contact with contagious germs if others around you are sick.  

            And, in a declared biological emergency or developing epidemic, there may be reason to stay away from crowds where others may be infected.

            Plan ahead.

            Know what to do.

            Use common sense.

            Those are the ways to prevent being the victim of a biological attack.

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Please live safetly.

THE END