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Terrorism
-- Preparing for the Unexpected
(PDF
File)- English
Spanish
Version
Devastating
acts, such as the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon, have left many concerned about the possibility of future
incidents in the United States and their potential impact. They have
raised uncertainty about what might happen next, increasing stress levels.
Nevertheless, there are things you can do to prepare for the unexpected
and reduce the stress that you may feel now and later should another
emergency arise. Taking preparatory action can reassure you and your
children that you can exert a measure of control even in the face of such
events.
What
You Can Do to Prepare
Finding out what can happen is the first step. Once you have
determined the events possible and their potential in your community, it
is important that you discuss them with your family or household. Develop
a disaster plan together.
1.
Create an emergency communications plan.
Choose an out-of-town contact your family or household will call or e-mail
to check on each other should a disaster occur. Your selected contact
should live far enough away that they would be unlikely to be directly
affected by the same event, and they should know they are the chosen
contact. Make sure every household member has that contact's, and each
other's, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers (home, work, pager and
cell). Leave these contact numbers at your children's schools, if you have
children, and at your workplace. Your family should know that if
telephones are not working, they need to be patient and try again later or
try e-mail. Many people flood the telephone lines when emergencies happen
but e-mail can sometimes get through when calls don't.
2.
Establish a meeting place.
Having a predetermined meeting place away from your home will save time
and minimize confusion should your home be affected or the area evacuated.
You may even want to make arrangements to stay with a family member or
friend in case of an emergency. Be sure to include any pets in these
plans, since pets are not permitted in shelters and some hotels will not
accept them.
3.
Assemble a disaster supplies kit.
If you need to evacuate your home or are asked to "shelter in
place," having some essential supplies on hand will make you and your
family more comfortable. Prepare a disaster supplies kit in an
easy-to-carry container such as a duffel bag or small plastic trash can.
Include "special needs" items for any member of your household
(infant formula or items for people with disabilities or older people),
first aid supplies (including prescription medications), a change of
clothing for each household member, a sleeping bag or bedroll for each, a
battery powered radio or television and extra batteries, food, bottled
water and tools. It is also a good idea to include some cash and copies of
important family documents (birth certificates, passports and licenses) in
your kit.
Copies
of essential documents-like powers of attorney, birth and marriage
certificates, insurance policies, life insurance beneficiary designations
and a copy of your will-should also be kept in a safe location outside
your home. A safe deposit box or the home of a friend or family member who
lives out of town is a good choice.
For
more complete instructions, ask your local Red Cross chapter for the
brochure titled Your
Family Disaster Supplies Kit (stock number A4463).
4.
Check on the school emergency plan of any school-age children you may
have.
You need to know if they will they keep children at school until a parent
or designated adult can pick them up or send them home on their own. Be
sure that the school has updated information about how to reach parents
and responsible caregivers to arrange for pickup. And, ask what type of
authorization the school may require to release a child to someone you
designate, if you are not able to pick up your child. During times of
emergency the school telephones may be overwhelmed with calls.
For
more information on putting together a disaster plan, request a copy of
the brochure titled Your
Family Disaster Plan (A4466) from your local American Red Cross
chapter. You may also want to request a copy of Before
Disaster Strikes . . . How to Make Sure You're Financially Prepared
(A5075) for specific information on what you can do now to protect your
assets.
If Disaster Strikes
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Remain
calm and be patient.
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Follow
the advice of local emergency officials.
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Listen
to your radio or television for news and instructions.
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If
the disaster occurs near you, check for injuries. Give first aid and
get help for seriously injured people.
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If
the disaster occurs near your home while you are there, check for
damage using a flashlight. Do not light matches or candles or turn on
electrical switches. Check for fires, fire hazards and other household
hazards. Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you
smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open
windows, and get everyone outside quickly.
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Shut
off any other damaged utilities.
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Confine
or secure your pets.
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Call
your family contact—do not use the telephone again unless it is a
life-threatening emergency.
-
Check
on your neighbors, especially those who are elderly or disabled.
A
Word on What Could Happen
As we learned from the events of September 11, 2001, the following things
can happen after a terrorist attack:
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There
can be significant numbers of casualties and/or damage to buildings
and the infrastructure. So employers need up-to-date information about
any medical needs you may have and on how to contact your designated
beneficiaries.
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Heavy
law enforcement involvement at local, state and federal levels follows
a terrorist attack due to the event's criminal nature.
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Health
and mental health resources in the affected communities can be
strained to their limits, maybe even overwhelmed.
-
Extensive
media coverage, strong public fear and international implications and
consequences can continue for a prolonged period.
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Workplaces
and schools may be closed, and there may be restrictions on domestic
and international travel.
-
You
and your family or household may have to evacuate an area, avoiding
roads blocked for your safety.
-
Clean-up
may take many months.
Evacuation
If local authorities ask you to leave your home, they have a good reason
to make this request, and you should heed the advice immediately. Listen
to your radio or television and follow the instructions of local emergency
officials and keep these simple tips in mind-
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Wear
long-sleeved shirts, long pants and sturdy shoes so you can be
protected as much as possible.
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Take
your disaster supplies kit.
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Take
your pets with you; do not leave them behind. Because pets are not
permitted in public shelters, follow your plan to go to a relative's
or friend's home, or find a "pet-friendly" hotel.
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Lock
your home.
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Use
travel routes specified by local authorities—don't use shortcuts
because certain areas may be impassable or dangerous.
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Stay
away from downed power lines.
Listen
to local authorities.
Your local authorities will provide you with the most accurate information
specific to an event in your area. Staying tuned to local radio and
television, and following their instructions is your safest choice.
If
you're sure you have time:
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Call
your family contact to tell them where you are going and when you
expect to arrive.
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Shut
off water and electricity before leaving, if instructed to do so.
Leave natural gas service ON unless local officials advise you
otherwise. You may need gas for heating and cooking, and only a
professional can restore gas service in your home once it's been
turned off. In a disaster situation it could take weeks for a
professional to respond.
Shelter-in-place
Fact Sheet (Fact
Sheet PDF file)
If you are advised by local officials to "shelter in place,"
what they mean is for you to remain inside your home or office and protect
yourself there. Close and lock all windows and exterior doors. Turn off
all fans, heating and air conditioning systems. Close the fireplace
damper. Get your disaster supplies kit, and make sure the radio is
working. Go to an interior room without windows that's above ground level.
In the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable
because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements
even if the windows are closed. Using duct tape, seal all cracks around
the door and any vents into the room. Keep listening to your radio or
television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate.
Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk
in your community.
Additional
Positive Steps You Can Take
Raw, unedited footage of terrorism events and people's reaction to
those events can be very upsetting, especially to children. We do not
recommend that children watch television news reports about such events,
especially if the news reports show images over and over again about the
same incident. Young children do not realize that it is repeated video
footage, and think the event is happening again and again. Adults may also
need to give themselves a break from watching disturbing footage. However,
listening to local radio and television reports will provide you with the
most accurate information from responsible governmental authorities on
what's happening and what actions you will need to take. So you may want
to make some arrangements to take turns listening to the news with other
adult members of your household.
Another
useful preparation includes learning some basic first aid. To enroll in a
first aid and AED/CPR course, contact your local American Red Cross
chapter. In an emergency situation, you need to tend to your own
well-being first and then consider first aid for others immediately around
you, including possibly assisting injured people to evacuate a building if
necessary.
People
who may have come into contact with a biological or chemical agent may
need to go through a decontamination procedure and receive medical
attention. Listen to the advice of local officials on the radio or
television to determine what steps you will need to take to protect
yourself and your family. As emergency services will likely be
overwhelmed, only call 9-1-1 about life-threatening emergencies.
First
Aid Primer
If you encounter someone who is injured, apply the emergency action steps:
Check-Call-Care. Check the scene to make sure it is safe for you to
approach. Then check the victim for unconsciousness and life-threatening
conditions. Someone who has a life-threatening condition, such as not
breathing or severe bleeding, requires immediate care by trained
responders and may require treatment by medical professionals. Call out
for help. There are some steps that you can take, however, to care for
someone who is hurt, but whose injuries are not life threatening.
Control
Bleeding
-
Cover
the wound with a dressing, and press firmly against the wound (direct
pressure).
-
Elevate
the injured area above the level of the heart if you do not suspect
that the victim has a broken bone.
-
Cover
the dressing with a roller bandage.
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If
the bleeding does not stop:
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Provide
care for shock.
Care
for Shock
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Keep
the victim from getting chilled or overheated.
-
Elevate
the legs about 12 inches (if broken bones are not suspected).
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Do
not give food or drink to the victim.
Tend
Burns
-
Stop
the burning by cooling the burn with large amounts of water.
-
Cover
the burn with dry, clean dressings or cloth.
Care
for Injuries to Muscles, Bones and Joints
-
Rest
the injured part.
-
Apply
ice or a cold pack to control swelling and reduce pain.
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Avoid
any movement or activity that causes pain.
-
If
you must move the victim because the scene is becoming unsafe, try to
immobilize the injured part to keep it from moving.
Be
Aware of Biological/Radiological Exposure
Reduce
Any Care Risks
The risk of getting a disease while giving first aid is extremely rare.
However, to reduce the risk even further:
-
Avoid
direct contact with blood and other body fluids.
-
Use
protective equipment, such as disposable gloves and breathing
barriers.
-
Thoroughly
wash your hands with soap and water immediately after giving care.
It is
important to be prepared for an emergency and to know how to give
emergency care.
More
Information
All of these recommendations make good sense, regardless of the potential
problem. For more information on how to get ready for disaster and be safe
when disaster strikes, or to register for a first aid and AED/CPR course,
please contact your local American Red Cross chapter. You can find it in
your telephone directory under "American Red Cross" or through
our home page at www.redcross.org
under "your local chapter."
For
information about your community's specific plans for response to
disasters and other emergencies, contact your local office of emergency
management.
For
information on what a business can do to protect its employees and
customers as well as develop business continuity plans, you may want to
get a copy of the Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry
and/or Preparing Your Business for the Unthinkable from your local
American Red Cross chapter or see http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared
For
more information about the specific effects of chemical or biological
agents, the following Web sites may be helpful:
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