Volume 2   Issue 16         

Safety News

 By Ronald Porep

 

<Back            

 Friday, March 21,  2003

Chemical Terrorism

          The war with Iraq has started.  The retaliation being promised by Iraqi officials and Arab terrorists has not reach our shore this time yet.

          Terrorism experts believe that the increased security in the United States has prevented many terrorist attacks but they add that a terrorist attack on the United States is not a question of if but when. For the safety of your family, you need to be prepared. This article will describe what may happen if terrorists release a hazardous chemical in your area and how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from its poisonous effects.

          A chemical attack is the deliberate release of a toxic gas, liquid or solid that can poison people and the environment. You will know you have been exposed to a dangerous chemical if you or those around you are choking or having trouble breathing, losing coordination, suffering from watery eyes or twitching.

          Another sign of a hazardous chemical in an area is a pile up of many dead birds, fish or small animals.

          Either sign signals extreme danger.

          What action should you take?

          Define, if you can, quickly, the impacted area or where the chemical is coming from.

          Get away from the affected area immediately. If the chemical is inside a building where you are, get out of the building without passing through the contaminated area, if possible. If you are outside, quickly decide what is the fastest escape from the chemical threat.

          If you are exposed to a dangerous chemical, your first action after getting away from the exposure area, is to remove all of your clothes. Trust me that this is no time for modesty. The longer you are in contact with the chemical which is certainly in your clothes upon exposure, the more harm the chemical can do to you.

          After you strip, find a hose. If you can not find a hose then find a fountain or any source of water. Find some soap if you can and start washing the chemical off your body. Wash quickly and vigorously as the faster you get the chemical off you and the more of the chemical you remove, the safer you will be from the effects of the chemical. Use a LOT of soap or soap and water so you do not wash the chemical under your skin instead of away from your skin.

          Especially wash your eyes if they are stinging. Do not rub your eyes hard but wash them with abundant supplies of water.

          Once you have washed away as much of the chemical as you can, seek medical help as soon as possible. There are many chemicals that are much more effective than water for removing hazardous chemicals from human skin but access to them is mostly limited to experts who know how to use them correctly. So, do not be surprised if the medic commands you to use a special chemical to rewash your body.

          Our next article will deal with surviving a nuclear terrorist attack.

To advertise in this column, please click here for information.

To contact the columnist, please click here.

Thank you for reading this column.

Please live safetly.

THE END