Chemical Emergencies

Chemical agents are vapors, aerosols, liquids and solids that are poisonous to people, animals or plants. They can have an immediate effect (a few seconds to a few minutes) or a delayed effect (2 to 48 hours). While potentially lethal, chemical agents are difficult to deliver in lethal concentrations. Outdoors, chemical agents often dissipate rapidly. 

A chemical attack can happen without warning. Signs of a chemical release include people having difficulty breathing; experiencing eye irritation; losing coordination; becoming nauseated; or having a burning sensation in the nose, throat and lungs. Also, the presence of many dead insects or birds may indicate a chemical agent release.

BEFORE

  • Build an emergency go kit and include:
    • A roll of duct tape and scissors.
    • Plastic for doors, windows, and vents for the room in which you will shelter in place. To save critical time during an emergency, pre-measure and cut the plastic sheeting for each opening.
  • Make a family communication plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
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DURING

  • Quickly try to define the impacted area or where the chemical is coming from, if possible.
  • Take immediate action to get away.
  • If the chemical is inside a building where you are, get out of the building without passing through the contaminated area.
  • If you can't get out of the building or find clean air without passing through the area where you see signs of a chemical attack, it may be better to move as far away as possible and shelter-in-place.

If you are instructed to remain in your home or office building, you should:

  • Close doors and windows and turn off all ventilation, including furnaces, air conditioners, vents, and fans.
  • Seek shelter in an internal room and take your emergency go kit.
  • Seal the room with duct tape and plastic sheeting.
  • Listen to your radio for instructions from authorities.

If you are caught in or near a contaminated area, you should:

  • Move away immediately in a direction upwind of the source.
  • Find shelter as quickly as possible.
  • Determine the fastest way to find clean air. Consider if you can get out of the area or if you should go inside the closest building and shelter-in-place.
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AFTER

Do not leave the safety of a shelter to go outdoors to help others until authorities announce it is safe to do so. Decontamination is needed within minutes of exposure to minimize negative health effects. A person affected by a chemical agent requires immediate medical attention. If medical help is not immediately available, decontaminate yourself and assist in decontaminating others.

  • Use extreme caution when helping others who have been exposed to chemical agents. 
  • Remove all clothing and other items in contact with the body. 
    • Cut off clothing normally taken off over the head to avoid contact with your eyes, nose and mouth
    • Put contaminated clothing and items into a plastic bag and seal it. 
    • Wash your hands with soap and water. 
    • Remove eyeglasses or contact lenses. Put glasses in a pan of household bleach to decontaminate them and then rinse and dry.
  • Flush eyes with water.
  • Gently wash face and hair with soap and water before thoroughly rinsing with water.
  • Decontaminate other body areas likely to have been contaminated. Blot (do not swab or scrape) with a cloth soaked in soapy water and rinse with clear water.
  • Change into uncontaminated clothes. Clothing stored in drawers or closets is likely to be uncontaminated.
  • Go to a medical facility for screening and professional treatment.
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RESOURCES

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(source: Ready.gov)