Terrorism

Since I am hosting Thanksgiving, and with the holidays around the corner in general, I decided that this week and the next few posts should be more theoretical than practical (knowlegde is power!!). I was going to post about following the prophet, but when I got online and saw the headlines about North Korea I thought it would be be fitting to post this information instead. I haven't done everything to prepare for these types of emergencies, but I have compiled the following:

Terrorism

And they shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars. Behold I speak for mine elect’s sake; for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom  -JS Matt 1:28-29

And they shall behold blood, and fire, and vapors of smoke. -D&C 45:41

The ways a terrorist group could attack are too varied to cover, but here is some basic life-saving information. 

Bombs

When there is an explosion:

4  If things are falling around you, get under a sturdy table or desk. When things stop falling, leave quickly, watching for obviously weakened floors and stairways. As you exit from the building, be watchful for falling debris.

4  Leave the building as quickly as possible. Do not stop or go back to retrieve personal possessions or make phone calls.

4  Do not use elevators.

4  Once you are out:

8  Do not stand in front of windows, glass doors, or other potentially hazardous areas.

8  Move away from sidewalks or streets that will be used by emergency officials or others still exiting the building.

4  If you are trapped in debris:

8  Avoid unnecessary movement so you don’t kick up additional dust.

8  Cover your nose and mouth with anything you have on hand. (Dense-weave cotton material such as a T-shirt can act as a filter.) Try to breathe through the material.

8  If possible, use a flashlight to signal your location to rescuers.

8  Tapping on a pipe or wall will help rescuers hear where you are.

8  If you have a whistle, use it to signal rescuers.

8  Shout for help only as a last resort. Shouting can result in the inhalation of dangerous amounts of dust.

In the instance of a nuclear bomb, three factors for protecting oneself from radiation and fallout are distance, shielding, and time.

4  Distance: the more distance between you and the fallout particles, the better. An underground area such as a home or office building basement offers more protection than the first floor of a building. A floor near the middle of a high-rise may be better, depending on what is nearby at that level on which significant fallout particles would collect. Flat roofs collect fallout particles so the top floor is not a good choice, nor is a floor adjacent to a neighboring flat roof.

4  Shielding: the heavier and denser the materials - thick walls, concrete, bricks, books and earth - between you and the fallout particles, the better.

4  Time: fallout radiation loses its intensity fairly rapidly. In time, you will be able to leave the fallout shelter. Radioactive fallout poses the greatest threat to people during the first two weeks, by which time it has declined to about 1 percent of its initial radiation level.

Remember that any protection, however temporary, is better than none at all, and the more shielding, distance, and time you can take advantage of, the better.

8  If you have been exposed, following these steps will eliminate a large portion of radioactive material that may be on you.

1.   Do not touch other people. Touching others can spread radiation.

2.   Remove your outer layer of clothing including shoes or boots.

3.   Do not remove the clothes over your head. If necessary, cut clothes off.

4.   If possible, put the clothes in a plastic bag and seal it. Be sure to keep cuts and abrasions covered when handling contaminated items to avoid getting radioactive material in the cuts.

5.   Put the sealed plastic bag where others will not touch it. Keep it until authorities tell you what to do with it.

6.   Take a shower or wash yourself the best you can with soap and lukewarm water.

7.   Redress in clothes stored in drawers and closets—they are unlikely to be contaminated.

If there is a chance of radioactive fallout from a bomb:

4  Go to the lowest level of the building. Find a room with as few windows and doors as possible.

4  Reduce air flow from outside to inside. Close vents, air conditioning, fireplace dampers, and anything else that exposes the room to outside air.

4  Eat only sealed, stored food and water. Do not eat or drink anything that may have been exposed to radiation or radioactive debris.

4  Turn on the radio, television, or internet for updated health and safety announcements. Emergency workers will inform you when it is safe to go outside or evacuate to another location.

Chemical Threats and Bioterrorism

Signs of a chemical release include people having difficulty breathing; eye irritation; losing coordination; becoming nauseated; or having a burning sensation in the nose, throat, and lungs. The presence of many dead insects or birds may also indicate a chemical agent release.

During a chemical attack:

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

4  Close doors and windows and turn off all ventilation (furnaces, air conditioners, vents, fans, etc.).

4  Seek shelter in an internal room with your disaster supplies.

4  Seal the room with duct tape and plastic sheeting.

4  Listen to your radio for instructions from authorities.

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

4  Move away immediately in a direction upwind of the source.

4  Find shelter as quickly as possible.

4  HEPA air filters are useful in biological attacks but will not filter chemical agents. If you have a portable HEPA filter, bring it into the central room of your home where you are seeking shelter and turn it on.

8  A person affected by a weaponized chemical or biological agent requires immediate medical attention from a professional. Decontamination is needed within minutes of exposure to minimize health consequences. If medical help is not immediately available, decontaminate yourself and assist in decontaminating others.

8  Use extreme caution when helping others who have been exposed to chemical agents.

1. Remove all clothing and other items in contact with the body. Contaminated clothing normally removed over the head should be cut off to avoid contact with the eyes, nose, and mouth. Put contaminated clothing and items into a plastic bag and seal it.

2. Decontaminate hands using soap and water.

3. (Remove eyeglasses or contact lenses. Put glasses in a pan of household bleach to decontaminate them and then rinse and dry. Clean contacts.) Flush eyes with water.

4. Gently wash face and hair with soap and water before thoroughly rinsing with water.

5. Decontaminate other body areas likely to have been contaminated. Blot (do not swab or scrape) skin with a cloth soaked in soapy water and rinse with clear water.

6. Change into uncontaminated clothes. Clothing stored in drawers or closets is probably safe.

7. Proceed to a medical facility for screening and professional treatment when safe to do so.