In the event that you become aware of a biological attack having taken place, then you should follow these steps:
- Go indoors immediately. Try to seal off a safe room to shelter in.
- Try to minimize contact with other people.
- Do the same things you would do to prevent the spread of colds and flues: wash your hands often, avoid close proximity to an infected (or potentially infected) person, wash surfaces and clothing that an infected person may have touched and avoid touching your eyes. These simple hygiene practices will do wonders to decrease your chances of infection and are very effective at halting the spread of contagious diseases.
- Try to get information on how contagious the disease is, and how far it has spread. Listen to your radio and try contacting you local emergency coordinator's office Follow any advice you're given by the authorities and the medical profession.
- If your family members are in different places you will need to use your judgment on how to proceed. If they are in a safe environment in their workplace or school, then leave them there until the situation is normalized. If you have to go outside to pick up members of your family, and you don't have protective gear, then wear a damp cloth over your mouth and nose as a minimum first line of defense. Bear in mind, any member of your family could be infected and bring the disease home with them.
- Tune in to a local radio station that is broadcasting official emergency information. Avoid using the telephone. It should be used for emergency calls only.
- Be prepared to evacuate if given the official order to do so.
At this point, it depends largely on the nature and extent of the problem. In a worst case scenario, you may find yourself 'trapped' in your home for a considerable period of time.
Try your best to be prepared for this possibility.
- If you have a baby or a young infant, don't struggle to make him/her put on a gas mask. Strive instead, to get both yourself and the child to a safe place as quickly as possible. If possible, hold a wet t-shirt over his/her mouth and nose.
- You should discuss all the points on this page with your family, with your child's school, and with your work colleagues to ensure that no matter where you and your family are, you're all in a good position to protect yourselves in the event of any kind of attack.
- The National Institute for Chemical Studies has prepared a document on preparing an emergency.
- You should also visit your local hospital and find out how well prepared they are to cope with an emergency. A recent study along the east coast by the Journal of the American Public Health Association revealed that only 20% of hospitals had adequate emergency plans.
It is worth noting, that the chances of a crisis escalating to the point where you'll need to spend several months in a survival situation are very slim. However, a crisis that continues for several days or even weeks is possible. For that reason, it is worth making some preparations in advance. It will put your mind at ease and, if a worst case scenario were ever to develop, you'll greatly increase you and your family's chances of surviving.
