After something happens 11/20/06 Email this story to a friend If you are trapped in debris: Use a flashlight. Stay in your area so that you don't kick up dust. Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Tap on a pipe or wall so that rescuers can hear where you are. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause a person to inhale dangerous amounts of dust. Assisting Victims Untrained persons should not attempt to rescue people who are inside a collapsed building. Wait for emergency personnel to arrive. Chemical Agents Chemical agents are poisonous gases, liquids or solids that have toxic effects on people, animals or plants. Most chemical agents cause serious injuries or death. The severity of injuries depends on the type and amount of the chemical agent used, and the duration of exposure. Were a chemical agent attack to occur, authorities may instruct citizens to either seek shelter where they are and seal the premises or evacuate immediately. Exposure to chemical agents can be fatal. Leaving the shelter to rescue or assist victims can be a deadly decision. There is no assistance that the untrained can offer that would likely be of any value to the victims of chemical agents. Some agents are contagious, and victims may need to be quarantined. Also, some medical facilities may not receive victims for fear of contaminating the hospital population. Radiological Agents If there is an explosion: Move away from the immediate area—at least several blocks from the explosion - and go inside. This will reduce exposure to any radioactive airborne dust. Turn on radio or TV channels for advisories from emergency response and health authorities. If facilities are available, remove your clothes and place them in a sealed plastic bag. Saving contaminated clothing will allow testing for radiation exposure. Take a shower to wash off dust and dirt. This will reduce the total radiation exposure if the device contained radioactive material. If radioactive material was released, local news broadcasts will advise people where to report for radiation monitoring and blood and other tests to determine whether, in fact, they were exposed and what steps to take to protect their health. Biological Agents Biological agents are organisms or toxins that have illness- producing effects on people, livestock and crops. Because biological agents cannot necessarily be detected and may take time to grow and cause a disease, it is almost impossible to know that a biological attack has occurred. If government officials become aware of a biological attack through an informant or warning by terrorists, they would most likely instruct citizens to either seek shelter where they are and seal the premises or evacuate immediately. Courtesy of FEMA Rodney says, “If you are trapped in debris use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause a person to inhale dangerous amounts of dust."