1. health and fitness
2. disease

How To Survive A
Chemical Or Biological
Attack
Table Of Contents
Introduction
What are chemical weapons?
What are biological weapons?
Which is more dangerous: biological or chemical?
What is our defense against these weapons?
Why haven't we developed more antidotes and vaccines?
Which weapon are terrorists more likely to use?
Can I minimize my chances of falling victim to an attack?
How will I know when an attack is happening?
What is likely to happen in the event of an attack?
The basic rules to surviving an attack
What is the worst case scenario?
How to prepare for the worst case scenario
Preparing a 'safe room' at home
Preparing emergency survival kits
Preparing emergency water supplies
Preparing emergency food supplies
Preparing emergency energy, light and communication
Gas masks and protective clothing
Some products that may save your life
Other things to prepare for a survival situation
Psychological preparation
A few words to conclude
A brief history of chemical and biological weapons
Important points at a glance
Introduction
The idea of using toxic chemicals and contagious diseases as
weapons of war is not a new one. In fact, it's almost as old as war
itself.
Throughout history we have seen countless examples of the
horror that chemical and biological warfare can inflict upon its
victims. However, until recent times, use of these weapons was
confined mainly to the battlefield.
That situation has changed.
Today, the new battlefields are the towns and cities we live in.
And the new war is the war against terrorism.
We know that there is a global network of terrorists that are
capable of producing poisonous weapons quickly, easily and,
above all, cheaply. Indeed, chemical and biological weapons are
often called 'the poor man's atom bomb' simply because they
cost so little to produce.
We know that hostile nations like Saddam Hussein's Iraq have
developed significant chemical weapons arsenals (and with the
UN Arms Inspectors no longer there to monitor the situation, the
Iraqi arsenal of poisons is likely to grow).
We also know that those who attacked the World Trade Center
(or their associates) had attempted to rent chemical-spreading
crop dusters and tried to get licenses to transport toxic
chemicals. This is troubling news which suggests that the use of
poisons is now high on the terrorist agenda.
These facts all point to one thing: the threat of chemical or
biological attacks from terrorist groups and hostile nations is to
be taken very seriously indeed.
Many would say that such attacks are inevitable - it's not a
question of if it happens it's a question of when it happens.
So what is the government doing to protect us from such attacks?
Unfortunately, there's only so much the government can do.
Terrorists are persistent and determined and so will always find a
way to carry out their attacks regardless of security measures.
Are the emergency services capable of coping with an attack if it
happens?
Only partially. In many situations the emergency services will be
able to cope well with the medium to long term effects of an
attack, but will be able to do little to save those who are in the
'front line' of an attack. It depends on the scale of the crisis and
the type of poisons released.
So are we completely powerless to protect ourselves?
Fortunately, we're not powerless at all. We can protect ourselves
by understanding the facts and by being ready, on a personal
basis, to cope with the attack and its consequences when it
happens.
Unfortunately, however, there's currently a lot of confusing and
misleading information about chemical and biological weapons in
the media and on the Internet. Advice on how to react in the
event of an attack often puts you in a worse position than you
were before.
The result of this constant barrage of inaccuracies and
contradictions is that it's very difficult to decide which
information you should trust and which of it should be confined to
the trash can. This confusion is putting you and your family's life
in danger.
In this book I've set the record straight about chemical and
biological attacks. I've dumped all the popular myths and I've
weeded out all the misleading information.
This book deals only in facts.
The facts about chemical and biological weapons, the facts about
our national preparedness, the facts on how best to prepare
yourself and your family and the facts on how to react when an
attack happens.
By understanding the issues, by being fully prepared in advance
and by knowing how to react during an attack, you can be
confident that you and your family are in the best position
possible to survive.
The world has taken a turn. The new century has brought with it
new challenges. The time to rise to those challenges is now. We
need to adapt to the new situation we now find ourselves in.
So, rather than sit around in worry and confusion, grab yourself a
cup of coffee and start reading.
Nathalie
What are chemical weapons?
A chemical weapon is a man-made agent (in gas or liquid form)
which attack the body’s nerves, blood, skin or lungs causing
symptoms such as vomiting, blistering, loss of bodily control and,
in some cases, death.
Chemical agents as a weapon can be spread using, for example,
a bomb (or an explosion), a crop-dusting plane or an aerosol
device.
A chemical attack can affect the contaminated area for several
minutes or several days (depending on factors like the
concentration of the agent, whether the attack is indoors or
outdoors and the weather).
Although relatively cheap to produce, chemical weapons are still
more expensive and complicated to use than biological weapons.
There are four basic categories of chemical agents, each of which
has its own way of attacking the human body:
1. Vesicant agents
Also known as 'blistering agents' or 'mustard agents', vesicants
(delivered in either gas or liquid form) produce burns and blisters
on the skin, eyes, throat and even internal organs.
If they pass into the blood stream vesicants act as poisons. If
they reach the respiratory system, they can cause death by
asphyxiation.
The most well-known vesicant substance is mustard gas.
Mustard gas attacks the whole body and is a carcinogenic (it
induces cancer). In the event of exposure, the effects of mustard
gas may take up to 24 hours before they start to become
apparent.
Mortality rates from mustard gas are relatively low. Those who
die usually do so between about two days and about two weeks
after exposure.
Lewisite is also a vesicant.
There is no antidote to the effects of vesicant agents, we can only
treat the symptoms.
2. Choking agents
Choking agents are relatively simple substances, most of which
are either common industrial chemicals (like chlorine, and
phosgene) or their derivatives.
Choking agents are delivered in gas form and are more volatile
than vesicants (which means they will disperse in the air more
quickly).
They act exclusively by inhalation, targeting the nose, lungs and
throat, provoking an immediate smothering effect followed by
oedema (excess fluid) of the lung possibly resulting in death by
asphyxiation.
3. Blood agents
Blood agents like cyanhydric acid and hydrogen cyanide, are
cyanide-based poisons that enter the blood stream disrupting
cellular functions in the respiratory system producing suffocation
as the victim 'drowns' in his/her own blood supply.
Hydrogen cyanide (in gas or liquid form) is poisonous to inhale
and can also be absorbed by the skin.
Early symptoms of cyanide poisoning include restlessness,
headache, palpitations and difficulties breathing, followed by
vomiting, convulsions, respiratory failure and unconsciousness.
Cyanhydric acid was used by the Nazis in the gas chambers. And
although no documented evidence exists, Iraq is believed to have
used hydrogen cyanide against the Kurds in the 1980s.
Hydrogen cyanide is volatile which means that it disperses
quickly so it's difficult to build up a high concentration outdoors.
However, in a confined space, it quickly reaches lethal levels of
concentration. In this scenario, there may not be time to display
early symptoms with victims just suddenly falling dead.
Like choking agents, these are common industrial chemicals that
are relatively easy to find and produce.
There is no antidote for cyanide poisoning.
4. Nerve agents
Nerve agents (neurotoxins) like sarin, tabun (developed by Nazi
Germany during the 1930s), soman or VX produce their deadly
effect by blocking an enzyme that is necessary for the central
nervous system to function. This leads to a disruption of muscle
function followed by a seizure and, eventually, death.
Nerve agents (in either gas or liquid form) enter the body through
inhalation, through skin absorption or through being consumed
(for example, in a contaminated water supply). Generally the
symptoms are produced faster when inhaled (2 to 3 minutes)
than when they are absorbed or consumed (20 to 30 minutes).
A thimble-sized portion of one of these nerve toxins can kill a
person in minutes. A few particles can produce death in 24 hours.
Nerve agents pose a real threat because they’re relatively easy
and cheap to manufacture (they're made from ingredients used
in the manufacture of insecticides, fertilizers and certain coloring
agents).
NOTE
For more complete details of the different chemical agents and
the symptoms that characterize them, see the page Additional
resources.
What Are Biological Weapons?
Biological weapons are designed to cause numerous deaths or
serious wounds using living or dead bodies or the toxic products
those bodies produce.
Biological weapons are very cheap and easy to manufacture anyone with a degree in biology could easily produce a deadly
disease.
Biological attacks are much easier to execute than chemical
attacks and their consequences are more difficult to predict.
An attack using biological agents can be triggered by, for
example, placing the agent in a water supply, releasing the agent
at crucial points in the food chain (like a meat processing plant),
releasing contaminated rodents or releasing the agent in the air
to be inhaled by the general population.
There are two types of biological weapons agents: viral and
bacterial.
Viral agents require a living cell to function and cause diseases
like smallpox and yellow fever. While we can be vaccinated
against viral diseases, once infected, there is no antibiotic
treatment possible.
Bacterial agents are single-cell organisms that are capable of
growing and reproducing themselves. They cause such epidemics
as anthrax, cholera, plague and tularemia. Bacterial diseases can
be treated with antibiotics provided they are detected early
enough.
Some of the most commonly discussed biological agents are
smallpox, plague and anthrax. Smallpox and plague are the more
dangerous because they spread easily from one person to
another. Anthrax doesn't spread from person to person meaning
that its consequences would be confined to the immediate
vicinity of an attack.
NOTE
To find more complete details of the different biological agents
and the symptoms that characterize them, see the page
Additional resources.
Which is more dangerous: biological or chemical?
A biological attack can potentially have a more devastating
impact than a chemical attack, since people infected with a
biological agent can spread the disease for a considerable length
of time and over a broad geographical region before we are
aware than an attack has taken place.
Anthrax is the only 'high-profile' biological agent where this is not
the case. Anthrax is not contagious. It is not transmitted person
to person. This means that an anthrax attack, would, like a
chemical attack, only affect those in the vicinity of the attack.
Once the anthrax has settled on the ground, it poses no further
threat because it is only fatal when inhaled in quite large
quantities.
A chemical agent will only affect people who are near the place of
its release. Unless released in a confined area, most chemical
agents disperse relatively quickly (depending on wind speed,
humidity, and so on), and will be carried by the wind along a
narrow corridor.
With regard to the symptoms produced by chemical or biological
weapons, then it largely depends on which agent is being used.
One milligram of the chemical agent VX on your skin will kill you.
Likewise, infection with a virus like smallpox can also be deadly.
In that sense both chemical and biological agents are equally
dangerous.
What Is Our Defense Against These Weapons?
This potential danger of chemical weapons is all the more terrible
because our defense against them, despite some progress, is far
from perfect.
There are basically four parts to our overall defense:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Detection
Protection
Decontamination
Medication
Detection
The detection of a chemical agent aims at giving the alert in time
to be able to take effective protective measures.
The methods of detection available to us are not optimal because
the chemical will most likely have done a lot of damage by the
time the detector raises the alarm and emergency personnel can
be mobilized.
Detection of biological agents is even more troublesome. In this
case, it may be several days or even weeks before evidence of
the attack shows up. This will only happen when more and more
people start displaying symptoms of the disease. By then, it may
have spread far and wide.
Most doctors have not been trained in how to recognize early
symptoms of the main biological weapons agents. The early
symptoms of anthrax, for example, can appear as a simple flu.
Some advances are being made in the field of detectors for both
chemical and biological agents. For an article that outlines some
of the progress being made, see the Additional Resources page.
Protection
When a chemical attack takes place, protection is initially down
to the individual. No matter how quickly emergency personnel
are mobilized, they will most likely be too late to assist you
during the attack.
Basically, it's a question of doing the best you can in whatever
circumstance you find yourself in (at home, in the car, at work,
etc.).
A little later we'll look at the steps you should take to protect
yourself and your family in the event of an attack.
When a biological attack happens, it will most likely go by
unnoticed until victims of the attack begin to display symptoms.
For this reason there is little you can do to protect yourself from
the attack and its consequences until you become aware that it
has happened.
A little later we'll look at the steps to protecting yourself and your
family once you know that a biological attack has taken place.
Decontamination
Decontamination is the reduction or the removal of chemical or
biological agents that you've come into contact with.
See the page How to decontaminate yourself after exposure for
further information about this.
Medication
Biological attacks
In the event of a biological attack the question of medication is a
complex one.
Vaccinations currently exist for anthrax, botulism toxin,
tularemia, plague, Q fever, and smallpox. Immune protection
against ricin and staphylococcal toxins may be feasible in the
near future.
However, having yourself vaccinated against any of these
diseases remains difficult.
The US Department of Defense has started vaccinating some
members of the military against anthrax, but because of the fact
that some of those receiving the vaccine have had adverse
effects, no such vaccination program is currently planned for the
general population.
Nobody has been vaccinated against smallpox since 1980. Even
those vaccinated before then may no longer be safe as the
vaccination may have lost most of its effectiveness by now.
The Center for Disease Control has enough stockpiles of smallpox
vaccines for less than 8 million people with an additional 40
million on order (not due for delivery until 2004). There is a fear
that the vaccine currently in stock may not be effective because
it's about 40 years old and has possibly degraded over time.
A vaccine against the bubonic plague exists, but it needs to be
administered between four and seven months before exposure.
This makes a vaccination program virtually impossible.
For many other potential biological agents, there is no
vaccination available to the general population.
There is also the danger that terrorists could develop new strains
of the biological agent. In this scenario, the time required to
develop and establish a new vaccine is estimated to be up to 3
years.
After you've been exposed to a biological agent, vaccination is no
longer useful. Then it becomes a question of cure.
There are antibiotics available that can be effective against some
biological agents. For example, doctors can prescribe antibiotics
against anthrax that are effective if taken quickly (before
symptoms start to show up or at the very beginning of the first
symptoms). If left untreated, the disease is fatal in 90% of cases.
So far, there is no known anti-viral substances that have proven
effective against smallpox after exposure although some recent
tests are producing promising results. The disease is estimated to
be fatal in about 30% of cases.
While you may be tempted to stock up on antibiotics to be
prepared in case of an attack, this is not advisable.
To have personal stockpiles of all those antibiotics for yourself
and everyone in your family (and carry them around all the time)
would be impractical and potentially dangerous.
Furthermore, if we all start stocking up on the limited medication
that is available, then there will be nothing left to treat those that
actually fall victim to an attack.
The National Pharmaceutical Stockpile has large numbers of
antibiotics against a range of biological diseases in supply. These
medicines can be deployed quickly in the event of an emergency.
When it comes to a medical reaction to biological agents, it's best
left up to the professionals to take care of the situation.
In most cases, the medical community will be able to act quickly
to prevent death, limit infection and halt the spread of the
disease.
Chemical attacks
With regards to chemical agents, the situation is not any better.
The effects of most chemical gases are swift. If the gas is deadly,
then there is slim hope of receiving appropriate medical
treatment in time. If the gas is non-deadly, then the resulting
symptoms can be medically treated.
There is no effective antidote against any of the existing chemical
agents (although an antidote exists, that soldiers can inject in
case of attack, that allows them to bear high doses of
neurotoxins without harmful long-term effects).
Certain medicines, taken preventively, can decrease the effect of
some chemicals.
Conclusion
With the increased threat of an attack from terrorist organizations
we can hope to see increased efforts on the part of government
agencies to put more effective measures in place to protect the
general population.
However, even if this happens, it will be only partially effective.
The fact remains that there are no effective treatments that exist
against some of these poisons, and even if treatments are
developed, there is every chance that new strains of biological
agents will be developed to remain one step ahead of scientists.
The same can be said of detection systems. While these can help
in some situations, and are vital to the rapid deployment of
emergency personnel and medication, they still fall short of
providing any defense for those who are immediately affected by
the attack.
This leads to one simple conclusion: there is no guaranteed way
of surviving a chemical or biological attack. All you can do is try
to minimize the risk to yourself and your family by being
prepared.
Why haven't we developed more antidotes and vaccines?
The answer to this question, unfortunately, comes down to
money.
The market for vaccines, antidotes and antibiotics to treat
chemical and biological weapons is very unpredictable. One day
they're in demand and the next day they're not.
A year ago, hardly anyone considered the threat of chemical or
biological terror. Now everyone is thinking about it. Hopefully, in
a few years time it will have become unimportant again.
You can see why this type of business isn't very attractive to the
pharmaceutical industry.
Another problem lies in dealing with the constraints of working
with these type of chemicals. Because of security factors, there is
a lot of red tape to deal with, a lot of special procedures to follow
and a lot of special precautions to take. All of this is important
from a security point of view, but it's also a big deterrent to the
major pharmaceutical companies.
At the moment, with everyone talking about the threat of
chemical or biological attack, we might be inclined to think that
the situation will quickly change regarding the production of
appropriate treatments.
However, unless we see some government intervention, this isn't
necessarily the case.
For most pharmaceutical companies, treatments for chemical and
biological agents account for a tiny fraction of their income and,
unlike the defense industry, they have received very little
encouragement from the government to invest more heavily in
this area.
The government can't, of course, create a reliable market for
these antidotes and vaccines.
The alternative then is to offer some kind of incentive to the
drugs companies to develop them. We can hope, and probably
expect, to see some developments on this front in the short to
medium term.
Which weapon are terrorists more likely to use?
It's impossible to predict what approach a terrorist group might
use to launch a chemical or biological attack.
This is what makes it such a frightening threat. It can be
anywhere, anytime and in any number of forms.
However, there are some clues available to us which can help us
understand a little more about the most likely approach.
Nerve agents and vesicant agents (blistering agents) are
relatively difficult to produce. The Chemical Weapons Convention
makes it hard to buy these agents and the ingredients needed to
produce them. This probably rules these two categories out.
On the other hand, a chemical such as phosgene (a choking
agent), is easy to find and produce. However, choking agents are
volatile and therefore disperse quickly. This means that the
terrorists would have to deliver it in a high concentration to have
the effect of maximum impact they'd be aiming for. A possible
scenario in this case would be to blow up a tanker full of the gas
(or a chemicals plant) in a busy area.
Again, however, this introduces complications for the terrorists.
The terrorists would need to smuggle a large bomb into a
chemical plant or drive a tanker full of toxic chemicals into a
densely populated area and blow it up. With the nation on high
alert, one would expect that such attacks would be very difficult
to execute.
It's possible that terrorists would use anthrax in an attack. If so, a
possible approach would be the use of a crop-duster. Why?
Because anthrax isn't contagious (it doesn't spread easily from
person to person) like most other biological agents. This means
that they would need to directly spread the bacteria onto as
many people as possible.
However, while the thought of anthrax being poured down onto a
city from a passing airplane is chilling, it is unlikely to happen.
Such an attack would be detected immediately and those
infected could seek immediate medical attention.
Furthermore, it would take a lot of time to release significant
amounts of anthrax with this approach, and the US Air Force
would have eliminated the threat long before large casualty
levels could be reached.
It's worth remembering that you would need to inhale large
amounts of anthrax before it becomes fatal. To put things in
perspective, wool sorters inhale up to 700 anthrax spores every
hour without any consequences -- in order for anthrax to reach
lethal levels, you'd need to inhale up to 10,000 spores with every
breath.
If the terrorists were to use anthrax, they would most likely
release it inside a building where a dense concentration of the
agent can be more easily achieved. While this approach would
create considerable fear and panic, the casualties would be
minimized because those affected could get immediate medical
treatment. Again, such an attack would be quite difficult to
trigger off.
Another, perhaps more likely, scenario is that the terrorists would
initiate the spread of a contagious disease. This would most likely
happen unnoticed. Only when more and more people start
exhibiting the same symptoms would the alarm be raised. By
then the disease may have spread very considerably.
If there's no treatment available for the disease, or if it were a
new, more resistant strain of an existing disease, then the fear,
panic and death objectives of the terrorist would be achieved.
Smallpox would appear to be a prime candidate in this category.
However, there are only two living samples of smallpox available
in the world. One in a secure laboratory the US and one in Russia.
Even though there are some concerns over security at the
Russian laboratory, it's still unlikely that the terrorists will
attempt to steal the sample and launch a smallpox attack.
It's more likely that the terrorists would take the easier route and
spread a contagious disease like bubonic plague. Such an attack
would be cheap and easy to launch and would create
considerable panic among the general population.
While the effects of such an attack would be very traumatic, the
emergency services should be able to move quite quickly to get
the situation under control.
Experience tells us that, whatever approach the terrorists use,
two things are sure: they will aim to create maximum fear and
intimidation and they will aim for a target where they can cause
maximum symbolic and material destruction.
That is, after all, the nature of terrorism.
Can I minimize my chances of falling victim to an attack?
The world is a dangerous place to live in and we all do our best to
get through life without too much incident or accident.
We do this by living day to day. We avoid situations that we
deem to be dangerous and we react to situations as they arise.
If we were to live our lives in fear of something that might
happen and base our lives on protecting ourselves against this
theoretical danger, then we risk making our lives miserable for no
good reason.
In a nutshell, what I'm saying is, 'yes' take measures to be
prepared for an attack if it happens, but 'no' don't go changing
your life in an attempt to avoid that danger.
If you really do want to take measures to avoid the chances of
being in an attack, then these are some points worth considering:
*
Avoid large crowds both outdoors and indoors.
*
Avoid going to large buildings that you consider may be
subject to an attack (because it is high-profile and symbolic,
because it houses a lot of important people, because it houses
dangerous chemicals, etc.).
*
Avoid large centers of population.
As I say, these are points that you can consider if you really want
to make an effort to avoid a potential attack.
But you shouldn't give up going to football matches, give up your
job or move home out of fear of attack. This would be giving in to
the terrorist aim of intimidating and frightening you.
We live in a world filled with uncertainty. Learn to adapt without
changing your ways. Stay diligent and alert, but continue living
your life.
How will I know when an attack is happening?
Recognizing a chemical attack
These are some of the indications that a chemical attack may be
taking place:
1. You may notice a strange smell in the air.
2. You may notice people suffering from some of the symptoms
of an attack (coughing, choking, gasping for air, suffering from
pain in the eyes, falling unconscious, convulsing, etc.).
3. You may start to suffer from some of these symptoms
yourself.
4. It may seem to be getting dark.
5. You may notice a cloud of gas, hear an explosion, spot a crop
duster where it shouldn't be, or something else unusual.
6. You will hear about the attack via radio, TV or warning sirens.
Recognizing a biological attack
Depending on the nature of the attack, there's every chance that
you will not notice anything unusual.
If the attack is with anthrax (which doesn't transmit from person
to person), then you may notice unusual activity like those
described in point 5 above.
However, if the attack involves spreading a contagious disease,
then the terrorists will probably use a subtle approach (like
putting it in a water supply or simply releasing it quietly among
the general population). In this scenario, it will probably be days
or weeks later - when more and more people start to suffer the
initial symptoms of the attack - before you realize that it
happened.
At this point it will be difficult to determine if you've been
affected.
If you've any reason to suspect that you've been subject to a
biological attack, follow the basic procedures described later in
this book and seek immediate medical attention.
Call your doctor or local hospital before visiting. This will prevent
you spreading the disease to others - especially important
medical staff. Follow whatever advice they give you on how to
proceed.
Note: If you know that an attack has happened in your region, be
on the look-out for flu-like symptoms. If you suffer these
symptoms, call your doctor or local hospital immediately.
What is likely to happen in the event of an attack?
A chemical attack
Chemical attacks are relatively easy to detect and can be spotted
quickly. A number of systems are in place (or are being put in
place) to alert us to the presence of toxic chemicals.
Having said that, with such a huge amount of potential targets to
choose from, there's every chance that a chemical attack will
have done most of its damage by the time any detection system
kicks in.
Chemical agents would probably be delivered in gas form (with a
crop duster or aerosols) or in liquid form (with a crop duster,
aerosols or contamination of water supplies).
Another feasible scenario is that a common chemical agent like
phosgene would be released in the air by blowing up a tanker or
chemical plant. If you live close to a chemical plant, you should
already be aware of procedures in case of an emergency.
A biological attack
The situation is different when it comes to biological attack.
There are few detection systems that can pick up a biological
attack (although some advances are being made on this front). It
is most likely that it will take several days (depending on the
incubation period and the concentration of the agent) before we
recognize that we've been attacked.
The most likely scenario is that we would become aware of a
biological attack when doctors begin to notice an increase in
patients exhibiting the same symptoms. It is hoped that our
doctors will be better trained in the ways of biological agents so
that they can be on the lookout for suspicious symptoms.
The exception to this is anthrax which is not contagious. In the
event of an anthrax attack, the scenario would probably be closer
to the description of a chemical attack (above).
In either case...
If an attack occurs outdoors - whether it be chemical or biological
- the agents will travel with the wind. It will not take very long for
the agents to be dispersed in the air and diluted to the point
where they present no further danger. The amount of time it
takes depends on a number of factors like wind-speed, humidity,
the concentration of the agent, temperature, and so on.
If an attack occurs indoors (in a large building or on the subway),
then the agent will be carried through the ventilation systems.
In the case of a chemical attack, once the gas has dispersed the
situation is over. However, in the case of a biological attack it
may be just the beginning.
In most cases the biological attack itself will pass by unnoticed
and will only show up, as I've said, when people start displaying
symptoms. By then, depending on the incubation period, the
disease may be considerably spread - even to cities and regions
well away from the initial attack.
Attacks using the biological agent anthrax or most of the
chemical agents is more likely to take place indoors where
sufficiently dangerous concentrations of the poison can be more
easily reached.
The Basic Rules To Surviving An Attack
These are the things you should do once you become aware that
you need to protect yourself from a toxic gas attack:
1. If you're in a building and the attack occurs inside the
building then head for the nearest exit.
If you're in a building and the attack occurs outdoors, don't
attempt to exit - just follow rules 2 to 5 (below).
If you’re outside and the attack is outside, immediately enter a
house or building and follow the rules below.
If there's no safe building nearby, try to determine the
direction of the wind and move cross-wind. If you move downwind you risk remaining exposed to the gas for a longer time. If
you move up-wind you risk entering a more dense cloud of the
gas. By moving cross-wind you have the greatest chance of
getting out of the cloud quickly as most gases will move with the
wind along a relatively narrow line.
If you’re in your car stay inside and attempt to drive away from
the cloud (again cross-wind if possible).
Finally, avoid moving to low areas as the gas may become
trapped there.
2. If you're indoors, move to a room that’s as far away from the
source of the gas emission as possible. Upstairs is better than
downstairs because these gases tend to be heavier than air so
they remain close to the ground.
3. Shut and lock all doors and windows. Turn off air
conditioners, heaters, ventilation systems, all electrical
appliances, and close all water and gas taps. Seal ventilators with
tape, and preferably do the same around the doors and windows.
If possible, place damp towels at the bottom of doors.
4. Tune in to a local radio station that is broadcasting official
emergency information.
5. Cooperate with official instructions and stay put until you’re
given the all clear by an official authority (don't rely solely on
media reports, unless they are delivered by appropriate
authorities). Be prepared to evacuate if given the official order to
do so.
The points above apply mainly to the event of a gas attack or an
attack involving the rapid spread of a non-contagious biological
agent like anthrax.
In most circumstances, as we've already seen, the consequences
of a biological attack will only begin to show up days or weeks
after the attack itself.
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 (as described in point 3 above).
*
*
Try to minimize contact with other people.
Do the same things you would do to prevent the spread of
colds and flus (wash your hands often, avoid close proximity to
an 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 infectious 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 for details (see Additional
resources to find out how to locate your local coordinator). 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 judgement 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. We will be
looking at how you can prepare yourself for this scenario in the
next section of this book.
NOTES
*
If you have a baby or a young infant, don't struggle to make
him/her put on a gas mask during an attack. 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.
*
See the page Preparing a 'safe room' at home for information
on how to have your home ready for an emergency shelter
situation.
*
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 plan for the workplace.
You can download that document in PDF format by clicking here.
To be able to read this document, you need to have Adobe
Acrobat Reader installed on your PC which you can download for
free from here.
*
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.
How to decontaminate yourself after exposure
Decontamination is the reduction or the removal of chemical or
biological agents that you've come into contact with.
If you've been contaminated with hazardous materials, you'll
greatly improve their chances
of survival by conducting personal decontamination.
In most cases, taking off your clothes will remove 80-90% of the
potential contamination. Then wash yourself with water (or soap
and water if possible).
Here are the three primary skin decontamination methods.
*
Physical Removal : Scraping (with a piece of wood, for
example) can remove bulk agent by physical means. Washing the
skin with water or a water/soap solution will physically remove or
sufficiently dilute most contamination. Be sure to scrub well
(using a stiff brush, if possible).
*
Absorbent Materials: These can be used to reduce the
quantity of chemical agent available for uptake through the skin.
In emergency situations, dry powder such as flour, detergents or
even soil may be useful. Flour followed by wiping with wet tissue
paper is reported to be effective against the nerve agents soman,
VX, and mustard gas.
*
Hypochlorite solutions: These are effective in the
decontamination of skin or other materials. Disinfectants such as
bleach or Lysol spray or Clorox (which contain chlorine) will
destroy most biological agents and are effective against the
blistering agents. For biological agent exposure, you'll need to
scrub yourself well with a chlorine solution for about 15 minutes.
In the case of blistering agents, about 5 minutes should be
enough.
NOTES
*
Be sure to dilute the solution in water before you use it on
your skin and rinse the solution thoroughly off your skin after use.
You should use a 5% solution to decontaminate equipment and
objects and a 0.5% solution to decontaminate your skin. A 5%
solution is, for example, Clorox straight out of the bottle. A 0.5%
solution is one part Clorox with 9/10 parts water.
*
NEVER decontaminate you face using hypoclorite solutions.
Wash instead with soap and water. If possible, use an absorbent
powder with wet tissue (as described above).
*
Chlorine is also available in tablet form. The tablets have the
advantage of being easy to transport and store, and they have a
longer shelf-life than liquid chlorine.
*
Ordinary laundry detergent with real chlorine bleach (as
opposed to the non-chlorine type) is very effective against most
agents.
*
Decontamination is an initial reaction to exposure. Once
decontaminated, you should seek immediate medical attention.
*
There are some products available that can help you in the
event of contamination or exposure. You can find details on the
page Some products that may save your life.
*
Prepare a decontamination kit to include in your safe room
with your emergency survival kit. The decontamination kit should
include Clorox (or equivalent chlorine-based bleach), scrubbing
brush(es), soap, damp swipes, plastic bin liners (to isolate
contaminated clothing or materials), a change of clothing,
detergent, tissues or cloths (to wipe surfaces) and an aerosol to
spray surfaces (a used spray container like those used for window
cleaners would be enough).
More information on decontamination:
PDF document detailing various decontamination methods
To be able to read this document, you need to have Adobe
Acrobat Reader installed on your PC which you can download for
free from here.
An introduction to methods and chemicals for decontamination
How to recognize and handle suspicious mail
There have been an increasing amount of cases of Anthrax being
sent to high-profile figures through the post.
The chances of this happening to you are next to zero, but, just to
be sure, here is some information on how to recognize suspicious
looking envelopes and what to do if you get one.
Recognizing suspicious mail
Here are some things to look out for in your post:
* Envelopes with no return address.
* Envelopes posted in a foreign country.
* Envelopes with excessive postage (value of stamps).
* Poorly typed or written address possibly with misspelled
words.
* Addressed to title only (e.g. Sales Manager) or not directly
addressed to anyone at all.
* Addressed to the wrong name or title.
* An unusual smell from the envelope.
* Excessive tape or string on the envelope.
* Envelope appears to contain more than just paper (slightly
bulky).
Any of these traits can occur in innocent circumstances, but if a
number of these criteria are met, you may have reason to be
suspicious.
What to do if you get suspicious mail
* Handle it with care (avoid shaking it).
* Don't open the envelope or smell it.
* Isolate the envelope and evacuate the area around the
envelope.
* Call 911.
* Wash your hands with warm water and soap.
* Don't panic. If the envelope contains Anthrax, you will not
have inhaled enough to put your life in danger and you will get
medical treatment as a precaution.
What is the worst case scenario?
Usually, a crisis is considered an 'emergency situation' when it
lasts for up to two weeks.
In most cases, the situation normalizes itself in less than 72
hours, and by then emergency units are operational, assisting
people with shelter, water, food, clothing, and so on.
Crises that are longer than two weeks are considered 'survival
situations'.
Depending on its scale, a biological attack has the capacity to go
beyond 'normal' emergency situations and turn into a survival
situation.
Firstly, as we've already seen, there's every chance that the
biological attack will pass by unnoticed for several days or even
weeks, giving itself plenty of time to cover a wide geographical
region before action begins to be taken. This already makes
containment of the disease more difficult.
Then it depends on the disease itself. Is it a common strand of a
disease that can be treated with antibiotics? If so, the situation
can be normalized in a relatively short period of time.
However, if it's a new, more resistant strain of a disease (or a
new disease altogether) then treatment may be more difficult or
even impossible.
In any case, it will take at least 48 hours to determine the
qualities of the disease and our ability to treat it.
Even if it's determined to be a common strain of the disease,
some vaccinations have been in storage for a long time, and it's
not sure that they will still be effective. If not, it can take months
or, possibly, years to develop new vaccines.
It is this type of scenario that can lead to a sustained crisis and a
survival situation.
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.
How to prepare for the worst case scenario
The worst case scenario could be a situation where there is
extensive spread of a contagious disease (that medical
authorities aren't able to effectively treat) and where the
continued spread of the disease is difficult to halt.
In this case, you may find yourself confined to a secure shelter
(either at home or elsewhere), avoiding all outside human
contact until the 'all clear' is given.
Depending on the nature of the situation, this could be a question
of days, weeks or - in an extreme, but unlikely, case - even
months.
To prepare yourself and your family for this type of situation,
there are a number of steps you can take.
By taking these steps now, you can ensure that yourself and your
family can survive an extended crisis - even in the event of
scarce access to water, food, communications, electricity,
medical help, and so on.
There are a number of things you will need to consider when
preparing for a worst case scenario:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Preparing a 'safe room' at home.
Preparing water supplies.
Preparing food supplies.
Emergency energy, lighting and communication.
Emergency survival kits.
Gas masks and protective clothing.
Medical, hygiene and baby supplies.
Psychological preparation.
Over the next few pages we'll look at each of these points in
greater detail.
Preparing a 'safe room' at home
In order to be fully prepared for an emergency situation, you
should designate a 'safe room' or shelter in your home. This is the
room that you can 'seal' yourself and your family into in the event
of an emergency.
This room will be useful in the event of a sustained crisis, but
should also be prepared for any kind of attack (short or long).
The room you select for this purpose should meet these criteria
as closely as possible:
*
*
It should contain few doors and windows to the outside.
The room should be easy to seal off in the event of an attack.
*
If you live in a two-story home, the room should ideally be
upstairs (as gases are heavier than air and will remain closer to
the ground).
*
The room should be big enough for you, your family and your
pets to be able to live together in relative comfort.
You should keep this room in a constant state of semipreparedness by keeping essential emergency items stored
there. At the very least, you should keep an emergency survival
kit (see next section) there at all times.
Here are some of the items that you'll need to store in your safe
room or bring with you when you enter it:
*
*
Gas masks and protective clothing if you have them.
Strong duct tape to seal off doors and windows once you're
inside.
*
A first-aid kit and first-aid instructions. Ideally you, or
someone in your family, should take first-aid lessons.
*
Emergency lighting (you should keep an emergency lighting
system plugged in in this room at all times, so that it will come on
automatically in the event of a power cut).
*
A radio capable of receiving AM/FM and ideally short-wave. A
TV might be useful and could certainly help pass the time, but is
not essential.
*
Comfortable seating for everyone as well as mattresses,
blankets and pillows.
*
Food and water or other drinks. Even in the event of a
relatively short stay, hunger and thirst are likely to set in, so be
prepared. You can find out more about preparing food and water
stocks for a sustained emergency in the next sections of this
book.
*
Chemical toilets and other sanitation needs. Even if your safe
room has bathroom facilities, there is always the risk that water
supplies be interrupted or even contaminated. You'll find
additional advice on emergency toilets and sanitation at these
web pages:
Disaster Preparedness - Emergency Toilets
Emergency Sanitation (FEMA)
See the page Where to buy supplies for a survival situation to
find emergency sanitation supplies.
*
A telephone, if possible, for emergency use. Be sure to
include a list of important telephone numbers (police, fire
department, hospital, emergency coordinator etc.)
*
Personal medicines for any members of your family on
medication.
*
*
Cleaning tools (broom, garbage bags, etc.)
A portable fan in the event of hot weather.
*
*
A fire extinguisher.
Toys, books, games and so on.
*
You may also want to consider buying a room filter that has a
HEPA and charcoal filter. These can be bought in most major
department stores and are effective in preventing the build up in
most chemical or biological agents.
It's important that everyone in your family is fully aware of the
safe room and its function in an emergency. Everyone should be
given pre-designated duties to perform in the event of an
emergency (one person is responsible for food, one for seating,
etc.). Write out a detailed list of everything you need, so that in
the event of an emergency, nothing will be forgotten.
You should start preparing the items for your safe room sooner
rather than later and you should conduct emergency drills with
your family every three to six months.
Preparing emergency survival kits
In order to be able to react quickly, and get through the crucial
early hours of a crisis, you should prepare a 'family survival
emergency kit'.
This kit should contain a first-aid kit and first-aid instructions,
emergency food, water, water-purifying chemicals and a water
filter, some source of light and the other items that you may want
or need in order to survive (like duct tape to seal off the room, a
radio, medicines, hygiene necessities, baby needs, candles,
matches, tin opener, clothing).
You can buy ready-made survival kits or you can also take care of
preparing them yourself.
Ideally, you should have enough identical kits, so that each
member of the family can easily access one: at home, at work or
school and in the car. At a minimum, you should have at least
one kit in your 'safe room'.
Everyone in your family should know where to find the kit, what it
contains and how to use it.
Family emergency drills are an excellent way to familiarize
everyone with use of the survival kits (they can also be fun and a
great psychological help if a real crisis ever occurs). You should
run a drill every three to six months.
IMPORTANT NOTE
It's important to periodically change the food and water of the
kits with fresh food and fresh water (more information about this
in the sections dealing with food and water supplies).
Your family emergency drills can also be an opportunity to
consume outdated supplies before they are replaced.
You should also check that all the other contents of the kit are in
good shape and functional.
Preparing emergency water supplies
There are three things a body needs to stay alive:
* Air: A person can go without air for only a few minutes.
* Water: A person can survive without water for up to three
days.
* Food: A person can go without food for up to three weeks.
Let us firstly assume that the air is not contaminated and that
you can breath safely (later we will look at surviving if this is not
the case).
This leaves us with water and food. Water is considerably more
important than food for our ability to survive a reasonable length
of time.
This means that having a supply of safe water is essential to
surviving a sustained crisis situation.
When it comes to water storage, you have basically two options:
1) buy bottles of water to store or 2) store tap water.
The first option is the most convenient. But, if you are to store
enough water to ensure your entire families survival over a
sustained period, then this will be expensive.
If it's stored properly, tap water is every bit as good as bottled
water and, of course, it costs a lot less.
Storing your emergency tap water supplies
Choosing the proper containers to store your water is essential.
These are the main options available to you:
*
Buy plastic containers which can be found in most stores
Be very careful to make sure that they are appropriate for
water storage: if not, there is the risk that chemicals will
penetrate the container and contaminate the water.
*
Disposable plastic soft drink bottles.
Start collecting your soda and water bottles and build up your
supply. Glass bottles are also safe, but are more difficult to store
and too easily broken.
*
Use camping thermos jugs.
Preparing the container for use
*
Carefully wash the container and let it completely dry before
filling it.
*
Add some chlorine bleach, or hydrogen peroxide (about ten
drops per gallon of water). This will kill most microorganisms,
without having too much impact on the taste.
*
Fill the container completely to the top, to force out all air.
*
Store the water off the floor, in a place where it can't freeze
(frozen water will expand and break the container), away from
direct sunlight, and away from chemicals.
Purifying your emergency water supplies
No matter how much water you store, in a sustained crisis, you
risk running out. For this reason, it's important that you have the
means to purify more water.
There are some water-purification chemicals available and even
simply boiling it can be effective. However, the easiest and most
reliable way to make water safe to drink is by using a water filter.
About water filters
The most common filters are ceramic filters impregnated with
tiny quantities of silver that kill off harmful bacteria.
Some ceramic filters are operated by hand-pumping action. A
hose is placed into the unfiltered water, and the purified water
exits via a spout into an appropriate container.
Others rely on gravity. Two thermos jugs sit on top of each other.
The dirty water is poured in the top one and the filtered water
drips into the bottom one.
Some filters are a combination of a ceramic filter with a carbon
filter that removes dangerous chemicals.
Some filters also chemically treat the water to kill diseasecausing viruses.
For places to compare and buy water filters see Where to buy
supplies for a survival situation
How much water do you need to store?
The recommended quantity of water to store is one Gallon (4.5
liters) per person per day, and ideally another gallon for cooking
and washing. Use your judgement when deciding how big a stock
of water you can reasonably keep.
Probably the best approach is to stock enough water to keep your
family going for a week or two and have a water filter ready in
case this isn't enough.
If you feel that you can reasonably stock enough water to keep
your family going for a longer period, then go ahead and do so.
The more the better.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Like food, stored water doesn't keep for ever. Rotate your stored
tap water every six months. Mark the fill date on each container
so that you know when it's due to be updated. Empty the
containers, clean them as explained above, and refill them with
fresh water.
Preparing emergency food supplies
The food currently stored in your refrigerator and in your pantry
has a relatively short shelf-life. This type of food will not keep you
going very long in the event of a sustained crisis.
To be properly prepared, you need to store food specially
formulated for survival situations.
As a minimum you should aim to store enough food to meet the
needs of your entire family for a week. Again, as with water, if
you can reasonably build up a supply to keep you going over a
longer period, then do so.
The cost of preparing a large stock of food is inevitably quite
high. Consider buying a little each week and building it up over
time.
Start looking for storage space
Finding enough storage space can be a problem especially when
you want to stock enough supplies for several people.
Examine each room of your house. Chances are you'll find empty
spaces that you had never considered useful but that will be
perfect for storing your survival stocks (for example under beds).
The different types of food you should store
*
Canned Goods
Ready-to-eat soups, meats, vegetables and fruit. Stock a
minimum of 3 cans per person per day.
*
Survival Food Bars
One bar will provide you with more than the normal daily
requirements for vitamins and minerals. Survival food bars are
very high in protein which will help you cope with stress. A typical
bar contains 400 kcal. They have a long storage life (often 5
years) and can be stored without deteriorating even in very cold
or very warm environments.
*
Meals-Ready-To-Eat (MREs)
Meals-Ready-to-Eat are army-style rations, sealed in triplelayered foil or plastic packs. They have a long storage life (usually
5 to 7 years) if stored in a cool environment (storing MREs at
normal room temperature will cause the taste and nutritional
values to deteriorate).
Meals-Ready-to-Eat don’t require the addition of water
(except to the drink base) and they don't need any cooking or
preparation.
*
Camping Pouch Products
Camping pouch products are either freeze dried or
dehydrated. They are packaged in an aluminized foil pouch and
have a shelf life of about 2 years when stored at room
temperature. Many of these products don't require any cooking
and only involve adding hot (or cold) water.
*
Long Shelf-life Food Supplies
This is the type of food you will want to store to prepare for a
long term survival situation. This food is either freeze dried or
dehydrated, packaged in double-enameled cans and has an
expected shelf life of 10 to 15 years.
IMPORTANT NOTES
* Keep in mind that dehydrated and freeze dried survival food
need the addition of water.
* Keep your food up to date. If some products are approaching
the end of their shelf-life, then replace them with new ones.
* Don’t forget that you'll need a can-opener!
* Don’t forget to also store food for your pets!
Preparing emergency energy, light and communication
The loss of electricity and communications is something we more
readily associate with a nuclear attack than a chemical or
biological attack.
However, in the event of a long-term, sustained crisis, then
anything can happen. If the disease was on the rampage and
medical treatment wasn't available, then we could (in theory at
least) find ourselves in the situation where there are simply no
people available to operate essential services.
Please note, however, that this scenario is unlikely. The biological
agents in existence today, would not cause enough widespread
devastation to stop essential services for a long period.
However, we don't know what new terror tomorrow may bring, so
it's best to be fully prepared.
Generating Electricity
Portable Generators
In the event of a power failure, you will need to have a
portable generator. Choose one keeping in mind what really
needs to be powered (the refrigerator, a few lights, a radio). A
portable generator is used where the device requiring electricity
is plugged directly into the generator’s power outlets using an
extension cord.
Generators are available fueled by gasoline, diesel, and
propane. Keep in mind that the use of a generator is a short-term
solution due to the amount of gasoline or other fuel you can
safely store.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Generators emit deadly carbon monoxide and so should be
placed outside the house where there is sufficient ventilation.
Alternative Power Sources
Electricity can be generated using alternative sources like wind
energy or water energy. However, the most efficient source of
alternative energy is generated from solar power.
Solar electricity is generated when the sun shines on solar
(Photovoltaic) panels. Solar panels range in size and power
capability from a very small panel, capable of charging a couple
of AA size batteries or powering a small radio -- to larger panels
that could power several essential appliances.
Another approach to using solar power is to equip yourself with
a number of essential appliances (radio, lighting, etc.) with their
own built-in solar panels.
See the page Where to buy supplies for a survival situation for
places to find out more about solar energy and solar appliances.
Emergency Lighting
In order not to find yourself in the dark, the very minimum you
need is:
*
A supply of candles. Ordinary candles are fine, but longburning candles are recommended. Don’t forget to also store
water-proof matches and/or a few cigarette lighters.
*
*
A few flashlights (battery operated, windup or solar powered).
Emergency lighting. Ideally, your emergency lighting should
be left plugged into strategically selected outlets in your home so
that it will turn on automatically when power fails. Don’t forget to
also store spare batteries and bulbs. See Additional resources
for suppliers of emergency lighting.
Communications
If a crisis situation occurs, you need to know what is happening
around you to help you plan. The minimum you need is a radio
receiver. A radio capable of receiving short-wave bands is
recommended.
Of course, a mobile phone can be indispensable in this kind of
situation. A CB radio can also be useful in a long-term survival
situation. A police scanner can be useful to stay abreast of the
developing situation.
Gas masks and protective clothing
When we think of chemical or biological attacks, the first things
that usually spring to mind are gas masks.
Some people run to the local Army-Navy surplus store and buy a
mask secure in the knowledge that they will be safe in the event
of an attack.
This is a mistake.
Looking at the movies you get the impression that there's
nothing more to gas masks than pulling it over your face and
you're safe.
The reality, however, is altogether different.
Gas masks are complex pieces of equipment. To use them
inappropriately is potentially more dangerous that the chemical
they're supposed to protect you from.
On this page, I'll attempt to lay aside the myth of the gas mask
and put you in a position to make a reasoned decision on whether
you should use them or not.
Do you need a gas mask?
This is the six million dollar question.
Most experts would advise that stocking up on gas masks for the
whole family is not worth it.
An appropriate gas mask will protect you from breathing in most
chemical or biological agents, BUT there are some things to bear
in mind before you run out to buy one:
*
A gas mask will be effective if you're wearing it before
exposure to the agent or immediately upon exposure. If you're
inexperienced in the use of gas masks, or if you take to long to
find it, you may be putting your life more in danger than if you
simply moved quickly to escape the cloud. Of course there's
every chance that you will not know what kind of poison is in the
air and may not have the appropriate filter in your mask. This
may lead to a false sense of security.
In the case of a biological attack masks are of little use. In
most cases a biological attack will go undetected for at least
several days making the gas mask virtually redundant.
* It's also worth bearing in mind that gas masks are quite
expensive. You can expect to spend about $200 for an effective
mask. Then you need to decide if (1 you're going to carry the
mask with you everywhere you go which would be
uncomfortable, impractical and probably not too popular an idea
with the kids or (2 you're going to have one mask for home, one
for work, one for the car, and so on which would be very
expensive.
NOTE
In the case of a biological attack, breathing through a doubled-up
t-shirt will greatly increase your chances of survival in an
emergency situation. Unfortunately, this method isn't effective
against most chemical agents.
In conclusion, I would suggest that a gas mask, used properly,
would be useful in the event of an attack (provided you know how
to use it and you're aware of the attack in time to put it on).
However, I would not feel compelled - despite current threats - to
rush out and invest large amounts of money in them.
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT GAS MASKS
*
Gas mask filters have a limited life-span. Most of them have
just a few hours of active use (depending on the amount of
dangerous substance being filtered and the relative air humidity).
At this point the filter needs to be changed. Never buy a secondhand mask as you will not know how much life the filter has left in
it.
*
You'll need precise instructions on using your gas mask.
There's more to it than just pulling it over your face.
Inappropriate use may be more dangerous than the substance
you're trying to protect yourself against. Ideally you should get
some training on the correct use of gas masks and both you and
your family should practice using them regularly.
*
You should be clean-shaven when putting on your gas mask.
A beard (or even stubble) may enable the poisons to infiltrate the
mask.
*
If you've had no training in the use of gas masks, there's one
important point to remember - take the plastic seal off the filter
before putting the mask on. During Operation Desert Storm
(1990) eight people lost their lives because they forgot to remove
the seal (they thought they were being poisoned, when in fact it
was the mask that was smothering them).
*
Some gas mask filters have larger intake openings designed
for people with lung/breathing problems.
*
Increasingly, gas masks are available in various sizes - even
for children and babies. If you're buying gas masks for your
family, then be sure that each one has a perfect fit. Some masks
are equipped with drinking systems, and masks that enable
easier speech (via 'voice-mitter') are also available.
Don't buy masks via mail-order or over the Internet as you
can't be sure that they'll fit properly. Always buy them in person
from a professional who knows what he/she is talking about. Be
sure to get a mask fitted for everyone in the family. To my
knowledge, there are currently no gas masks available for pets...
*
Bear in mind that, while gas masks are effective against most
chemical and biological agents, they do not assure protection
against everything. Be sure to get a gas mask that is certified to
be effective against chemical and biological weapons agents.
*
Generally, for biological agents to be effective, they need to
be between 1 and 5 microns in diameter. For this reason, regular
surgical masks, which are relatively cheap, would protect you
against almost all biological threats. Protection against chemical
agents, however, requires a gas mask.
*
If you have a baby or a young infant who is reluctant to put
on a gas mask during an attack, then don't waste time struggling.
Strive instead, to get both yourself and the child to a safe place
as quickly as possible. It's for this reason also, that it's vital that
you practice proper gas mask usage with your family -particularly young children.
Buying a gas mask
There are a number of important points to bear in mind when
buying a gas mask:
*
While there have been some advances lately in the
production of gas masks for women, children and people with
smaller faces, a lot of the masks on the market are designed with
the adult male (military) face in mind.
Be sure to buy a mask that fits perfectly otherwise it will only
give you a false sense of security (there's no point in a filter that
keeps out bacteria at 0.3 microns if you've got 1mm of space
between your face and the mask (which is why you have to be
clean-shaven before putting on the mask). Of course, you would
need to have a mask fitted individually for every member of your
family.
*
Make sure that your gas mask is certified against chemical
and biological warfare agents. But, bear in mind that no matter
how good the gas mask is, the filter will not protect you against
everything. You may need to get different sets of filters with your
mask to have the broadest protection possible. Be sure to discuss
this issue thoroughly with potential suppliers before buying.
*
Don't buy your gas mask from surplus 'Army-Navy' type
stores. The gas masks you'll find here have most likely been used
in military exercises, may be out of date and very possibly
contain flaws in the structure (small cracks or holes in the
rubber). If you are buying a mask, buy one from a reputable
manufacturer and buy it in person with every member of your
family available for a fitting.
*
The best masks are those with HEPA filter* (ideally coupled
with chromium-free impregnated carbon, that filters both
inorganic warfare agents like cyanide, chlorine and phosgene, as
well as organic agents like VX, sarin, tabun, mustard gas and
lewisite). Some gas masks can even protect you against acid
gases and ammonia.
*High-Efficiency Particulate Air
See the page Where to buy supplies for a survival situation for
details of gas mask suppliers on the Internet (this will enable you
to study what's available online before you go out in person to
buy).
Protective Suits
Appropriate protective clothing can prevent exposure through the
skin.
Protective suits usually come with built-in boots and hood. They
can protect against liquid and vapor chemical warfare agents, as
well as against biological warfare agents.
Several sizes exist, including those for children.
Protective boots are usually designed especially to accommodate
the extra bulk of a protective suit, and remain relatively easy to
put on even if you're wearing protective gloves. Protective boots
are usually knee high and have a high chemical resistance.
Protective gloves are extremely solid, they can be as thick as
25mm and have a particularly long chemical resistance, resisting
most toxic/hazardous chemicals.
Like gas masks, I would need to question the practicality of
buying protective suits. Obviously, you wouldn't be able to carry
one around with you everywhere you go (you're kids would
definitely draw the line on that one!), and the cost of keeping a
suit everywhere is prohibitive.
And, like gas masks, you would need to know about the attack in
time to get the suit on. And again, you may be putting yourself in
danger as you struggle to put on the suit when you could,
instead, be making sensible efforts to escape the gas cloud.
See the page Where to buy supplies for a survival situation for
details of protective suit suppliers.
Some products that may save your life
On this page you'll find some information on medicines that are
currently available and that could be beneficial to your health and
well-being in an emergency situation.
These products might be a good addition to your survival kits and
should certainly be considered for your safe room.
NOTE
I'm not a trained medical professional. I mention these products
for your information so that you're aware that they exist. You
should discuss these products with your doctor before you
consider using them.
Medication
Stabilized oxygen
Oxygen is the source of life and energy to all cells. When your
oxygen level is low, cells lose their natural immune system and
toxins begin to devastate bodily functions.
Oxygen also acts as a guardian and protector against unfriendly
bacteria and disease organisms. One of oxygen's major functions
is to break down and eject unwanted materials. An oxygen-rich
body is a difficult fortress to assail for biological agents.
Stabilized oxygen is very efficient as an anti-inflammatory, broadspectrum, bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal agent. Taking
stabilized oxygen will help the immune system to fight off
harmful organisms.
Colloidal Silver
Colloidal Silver is pure silver suspended in a distilled water
solution. Silver is powerful in the prevention of disease
development and is also a natural, universal antibiotic. It is a
natural disinfectant and broad-spectrum anti-microbial agent.
Colloidal silver acts as a catalyst, disabling the enzyme that all
one-celled bacteria, fungi, and viruses use for their oxygen
metabolism (it suffocates them). No known disease-causing
organism can live in the presence of even minute traces of the
chemical element silver.
Colloidal silver has been shown to be effective against more than
650 different disease-causing organisms (bacteria, viruses,
molds, fungi, and parasites).
Antibiotic Treatment for Biological Warfare
This webpage features descriptions of treatments available for
various diseases as well as the manner in which those treatments
should be dispensed.
Anthrax Protection Medication
FDA approved medication to protect against Anthrax
Aromatherapy - essential oils
NOTE
Stay up to date on developments in the treatments available
against the chemical and biological agents at the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention website.
Other things to prepare for a survival situation
Some miscellaneous supplies that you shouldn’t forget.
*
Medical: First aid kit, Aspirin, Paracetamol or Ibuprofen,
special medications if needed and a first aid manual.
*
Hygiene: Pre-moistened towelettes, all-purpose liquid soap,
tooth brushes and paste, disposable razors, feminine hygiene
items, latex gloves, disinfectant.
*
Toilet/sanitation facilities: You should include chemical toilet
facilities in your safe room. Even if the room already has a toilet,
there's always the risk that the water supply will be interrupted or
contaminated. Don't forget to store toilet tissue rolls. For more
information on this, see the page Preparing a 'safe room' at
home.
*
Clothing: At least one complete change of clothing for each
member of the family.
*
Baby needs: Baby formula and plastic bottles, disposable
diapers, pre-moistened wet wipes, baby blanket, two or three
complete change of baby clothes.
* Recreation : Toys for the children, playing cards, pens and
paper, books, games,...
Psychological preparation
The first thing you'll need to be able to cope with in the event of
an attack is fear.
Fear can diminish your ability to react in the appropriate way.
The best way to make sure that fear won’t compromise your
family’s safety is to prepare yourself, so that you’ll be fully ready
to react when the time comes.
Preparing yourself first means overcoming your own fear of the
unknown.
Proper mental preparation will greatly increase your chances of
survival because you will be able to take immediate protective
measures in a rational and confident manner.
A widespread infectious disease would be a hugely traumatic
event, which can be very difficult to cope with on any level.
You need to discuss with your family the impacts such a situation
would have on your lives, and on the world around you. Talking
about such a theoretical event may be difficult, but if a tragedy
were ever to occur, those discussions would be of huge benefit to
you all - especially your children. Kids need to be given the
opportunity to express their fears and ask questions.
The possible impacts of a biological attack are numerous.
Here is a list of subjects that can be raised in a family discussion
to help everyone to be prepared:
The practical issues
*
Accepting the change in habits (for everyone) that such a
situation would lead to - whether short-term or long-term.
*
Coping with the difficulty of living together 24 hours a day if
forced to.
*
Dealing with issues like personal hygiene and waste handling.
*
Coping with extreme weather (even if you are sheltered in
your home, you may find yourself without electricity or the
means to stay warm).
*
How to deal with issues like food, cooking, and the inevitable
change in normal eating habits.
*
Learning to cope in the event that you are cut off from
communicating with the rest of the world.
The psychological impact
*
Coping with the concepts of death, injury and illness. Not only
to yourselves, but also to friends, family, neighbors, and so on.
This may be particularly difficult for your children.
*
Dealing with the worry and uncertainty about the well-being
of your friends, family or loved ones.
*
Worrying about the way the crisis will evolve: your
helplessness in face of the events, the need to trust governments
to solve the crisis, the worry that things will get worse, and so on.
*
Accepting that everyone will have to contribute to the
survival effort which may mean having to do things that you
wouldn't otherwise do.
Impacts on the world around you
*
*
Coping with contamination of the water supply.
Coping with contamination of the air.
*
*
Coping with contamination of the ground.
Coping with economic consequences.
*
Coping with electricity or communications failure.
A few words to conclude
I hope that you find this book useful as you prepare yourself and
your family for the turbulent times that lay ahead.
Remember, if you're properly prepared, remain conscious of your
surroundings and remain constantly alert, then your chances of
surviving an attack are very high.
And, one final thing, the chances that you'll be affected directly
by a chemical or biological attack are estimated at the moment
to be about 1 in 290,000.
That means you've got more chances of being struck by
lightening or appearing as a special guest on Jay Leno's Tonight
Show!
And with that in mind, I'll leave you to get on with your
preparations.
Over the next few pages you will find a brief history of chemical
and biological warfare as well as a lot of useful resources to help
you as you prepare your emergency plan.
A brief history of chemical and biological weapons
The use of chemicals and diseases as weapons of war is by no
means a new phenomenon. Evidence of their use dates all the
way back to ancient times.
Here is a brief overview of some of the landmark events in the
turbulent history of chemical and biological warfare.
Greco-Roman Period
*
Drinking-water wells are poisoned with rye ergot by Assyrians
and Persians during the 6th and 5th centuries BC. During the
same era, Assyrians catapult decaying animal carcasses over the
walls of besieged cities.
*
During the Peloponnese War (431–404 BC) besieged cities are
attacked with 'incendiary devices' and sulfur dioxides carried by
the wind.
*
'Greek fire' (toxic smoke from an inflammatory mixture) is
invented by Greek King Kallinikos. Greek fire remains the secret
weapon of the Byzantine Empire against the Turks for five
centuries. Later the Turks themselves use it to conquer the Greek
Empire (14th century).
*
Roman Soldiers throw rotting animal corpses and poisons into
their enemies' water supplies.
The Middle Ages and Renaissance periods
*
Barrels of blinding quicklime are catapulted by the English
fleet on French vessels (middle of the 13th century).
*
A Tatar army tries to break the siege of Kissa in the Crimea
by catapulting infected corpses over the city walls (14th century).
*
Bombs, grenades and rags containing arsenic are fired by the
defenders of Belgrade against the Turks in 1456.
*
Weapons using sulfur, mercury, turpentine and nitrates are
mentioned in military strategy books.
*
'Stinking Jars' and toxic bombs are used in great quantities
during The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).
Eighteenth Century
*
More sophisticated devices using arsenic, orpiment, lead,
ceruse, minium, verdigris, antimony as well as belladonna,
euphorbe, hellebore, aconite and nux vomica are manufactured
and perfected. We don't know if they were ever used.
*
British soldiers deliberately distribute smallpox-infected
blankets as 'gifts' to Native American Indian tribes who have no
immunity to the disease.
Nineteenth Century
During the 19th century there was a shift away from the use of
chemical weapons which, at this time, were not considered
honorable.
*
English plans to fill the Russian garrison of Sevastopol with
lethal smoke (using sulfur and coke) during the Crimean War
(1854-1855) don't materialize.
*
Plans to use chlorine shells against the Confederates during
the US War of Secession (1861-1865) are rejected.
World War I (1914-1918)
*
6,000 cylinders containing 180 tons of chlorine are spread
across 6km of the front near Ypres, Belgium. Driven by the wind,
the cloud of gas kills 5 000 soldiers and puts a further 1500 out of
action (April 22, 1915).
*
Attacks with a chlorinate-phosgene mixture at Bsura-Rumka
on the Russian front. Over 12,000 bottles of the deadly gas are
used, killing 6,000 and putting a further 3,000 out of action (May
31, 1915).
*
100,000 'T-shells' containing benzyl bromide are fired with
cannons in Argonne, France (July, 1915).
*
Deadly phosgene shells are fired in Verdun, France (March,
1916).
*
Cyanhydric acid shells are used during the Battle of the
Somme, France (July, 1916).
*
The first world war's reputation as a chemical war reaches its
peak with the use of deadly mustard gas in the Ypres region of
Belgium. Over 9,000 tons of the gas are produced and its use has
a huge negative psychological impact on the soldiers (July, 1917).
*
The last year of the war sees massive use of shells containing
aggressive gases by both sides. It is estimated that around 25%
of the total shells used contained deadly chemicals.
The total loss of life caused by poisonous gases - especially
mustard gas - during the first world war was 1,300,000 people. Of
those, only 100,000 were on the battlefield. Were it not for the
introduction and refinement of gas masks, the death toll would
have been significantly greater.
While this amount of casualties is difficult to comprehend, it is
worth noting that other 'conventional' weapons were responsible
for a total 26,700,000 deaths during the same war. Of those, just
6,800,000 died on the battlefield.
1918 - 1939
*
1920: Chemical weapons are used during the Russian civil
war.
*
1925: Mustard gas is used during the War of the Rif, Morocco.
Significantly, this is the same year that the Geneva Protocol was
agreed.
*
1935-36: Mustard gas is used in massive quantities against
the warriors from Abyssinie, contributing to the destruction of
Ethiopia.
*
1937 to 1941: Japan uses toxins against China, most notably
during the attack of Yichang.
World War II (1939 - 1945)
With the exception of the Far East, almost no chemical weapons
were used by the warring parties during the second world war.
There are two main reasons for this:
*
Unlike the static nature of the trench-warfare campaigns of
the first world war, the second world war's 'Blitzkrieg' style of
rapidly moving campaigns made the use of chemical weapon a
less feasible option.
*
The allies were more advanced and had greater stocks of
chemicals to use as weapons which acted as a deterrent to the
Nazis.
The post-war years
*
During the 1950s, the United States and the forces of the
NATO compete against the Soviet Union in the research and
production of more sophisticated and effective chemical
weapons.
*
Between 1963 and 1968, Egypt uses mustard gas in Yemen,
while the United States uses defoliants, dioxin and weed-killers in
Vietnam.
*
The Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979-83) sees the Soviet
Union experiment with new, difficult-to-detect chemicals.
*
Between 1975 and 1983, Vietnam uses large quantities of
toxins against the Laotian rebels.
*
During the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, Iraq uses mustard gas,
cyanide and tabun against the Iranian troops resulting in very
heavy losses (10,000 seriously wounded and an unknown number
of deaths).
*
In 1995, Iraq admits to the United Nations that it had loaded
anthrax spores into warheads during the Gulf War (1990). That
conflict proved to be a major event in the history of chemical
warfare by highlighting the threat that the Iraqi chemical arsenal
posed to the international community. Their chemical arsenal was
found to be the third biggest in the world containing some 50,000
mustard gas, sarin and sarin cyclohexylic shells and bombs.
It's worth noting that Iraq signed up to the Geneva Protocol in
1931.
*
Iraq uses tabun and mustard gas in massive quantities
against the Kurds and Shiites in the south, causing thousands of
deaths.
*
In 1984, the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh cult allegedly
contaminates salad bars in 10 restaurants in The Dalles, Oregon,
with Salmonella Typhimurium, causing several hundred people to
become ill.
*
Between 1987 and 1990, the United States, after 19 years of
interruption, resumes the production of chemical weapons to
catch up with the Soviet Union.
Accidents and incidents
*
1969: Off the Belgian coast, one or two barrels of mustard
gas leak into the sea killing seals and fish. Fishermen are burned
as well as children on the beaches.
*
1979: A child is killed near Hamburg, Germany, by a stock of
cartridges loaded with tabun.
*
1990: In the Libyan desert of Tarhunah (near Tripoli), the
Rabta factory, thought to be the biggest of all chemical weapons
factories, is destroyed in a mysterious fire.
*
1995: A terrorist attack using sarin in the Tokyo subway kills
8 and makes dozens of others seriously ill.
Important points at a glance
Here is a very brief overview of the main points to remember and
where to find them in the book.
Chemical attack or Anthrax attack
An attack involving chemical agents or anthrax is most likely to
happen inside a building where sufficiently dangerous
concentrations of the poison can be more easily reached.
How to recognize a chemical attack
The steps to take in the event of a chemical attack
Biological attack
An attack involving contagious diseases is likely to pass
unnoticed until victims begin to display symptoms.
How to recognize a biological attack
The steps to take in the event of a biological attack
The things that everyone should do as a first line of defense
* Prepare a safe room at home (and at work, if possible) with
a minimum amount of food and water supplies.
* Include a survival kit in the safe room.
* Practice using the safe room with your family.
* Keep appropriate decontamination materials and medical
products ready for emergency use.
* Make a list of emergency telephone numbers (doctor,
hospital, ambulance, fire, emergency coordinator, police).
* Discuss emergency response issues with you work
colleagues, with your child's school, with your doctor, with your
local hospital and with your family.
* Prepare a list of the things you will need in the event of
being forced to use your safe room. Carry out emergency drills
with your family every 3 to 6 months.
Emergency supplies
This section contains an overview of those things that you may
consider buying when preparing yourself fully for a survival
situation.
All the items featured here can be purchased over the Internet.
Food Supplies
Nitrogen-packed cans of dried or freeze dried food. Family packs
are available. A very broad variety of products exists, including:
*
Breakfast
Western omelet, pre-cooked eggs with bacon, granola with
blueberries and milk.
*
Soup mixes
Bean and rice soup mix, beef soup base, chicken soup base,
green pea soup, stew blend, yellow pea chowder.
*
Full meals
Beef Stroganoff, beef Teriyaki with rice, chicken a la King,
chicken stew, chicken Teriyaki with rice, chili macaroni, chili
macaroni with beef, hearty stew with beef, lasagna with meat
and sauce, long grain and wild rice, mushroom pilaf, noodles and
chicken, oriental-style spicy chicken and veggies, pasta
primavera (vegetarian), rice and chicken, seafood chowder,
spaghetti in mushroom sauce, spaghetti with meat and sauce,
sweet and sour pork with rice, turkey Tetrazzini, veggie stew with
beef, wild thyme turkey.
*
Meat
Beef paties, boneless pork ribs in BBQ sauce, cooked diced
ham, cooked diced beef, cooked diced chicken, cooked diced
pork.
*
Vegetables
Carrot dices, chopped onions, great northern bean, green
beans, green peas, garden peas, pinto beans, potato granules
(mashed potatoes), tomato powder.
*
Fruit
Apple slices, banana chips, banana slices, fruit cocktail, mixed
fruit, peaches, pears, pineapple, raisins.
*
Deserts and snacks
Blueberry cheese cake, chocolate pudding mix, nut chocolate,
pilot crackers, raspberry crumble.
*
Cereals/grains
Cornmeal, cracked wheat, elbow macaroni, granola, hard red
wheat, millet, oat groat, pearled barley, popcorn, rolled oats, rye,
soybeans, sweet whole kernel corn, white rice, whole wheat flour,
yellow corn.
*
Various
Apple sauce granules, baking yeast, butter, cheese blend
powder, egg mix, honey, low-fat milk, margarine powder, peanut
butter powder, salt, scrambling egg mix, whole egg solids,
emergency food bars, emergency purified water, water
purification drops.
*
Drinks
Apple drink, fruit punch, hot chocolate mix, lemonade drink,
orange drink, orange breakfast.
Emergency power and light sources
* Power
Electric generators, diesel generators, portable generators,
solar-powered electric generating plants, power plant batteries,
rechargeable batteries, DC to AC converters, portable solar
panels, solar battery chargers, solar-powered appliances.
* Light
Battery-powered florescent lights and emergency lamps, allin-one lamp/radio/siren systems, kerosene lamps, emergency
candles, long-burning candles, light sticks, emergency 'liquid
candle' lamps, self-powered LED flashlights, wind-up flashlights,
solar flashlights, dynamo flashlights, solar rechargeable lanterns,
batteries, bulbs.
Medical Supplies
*
Medicine, antiseptics
Alcohol cleansing pads, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic
cleansing wipes, antiseptic spray, burn relief gel, chlorine
solution, colloidal silver generator, decongestant tablets, Iodine
tablets, Ibuprofen tablets, non-aspirin tablets, pre-moistened
towelettes, stabilized oxygen, soap towelettes.
*
Injury treatment
Butterfly wound closures, gauze sponges, instant cold
compresses, reusable hot/cold compresses, triangular bandages,
adhesive plastic bandages, fabric bandages.
*
Dressings
Adhesive pads and strips, adhesive tape, dust masks, elastic
wrap, gauze dressing pads, gauze roll bandage, sterile eye pads,
stretch rolls, trauma pads.
*
Instruments
Cotton tipped applicators, finger splint, latex gloves, scissors,
tweezers, vinyl gloves.
*
Hygiene
Soap, bio-waste bags (for storage of infectious waste),
feminine hygiene pads, paper towels, tissue packs, toothbrushes,
toothpaste.
NOTE: Kits are available, that provide most of the medical
supplies you should store. Some complete kits also combine
medical supplies with water and food rations, light, shelter, heat,
and personal hygiene supplies.
Various
*
Detection
Chemical warfare agents detectors for the identification of
nerve, blood, choking and blister agents, chemical and electronic
biological agent detector systems for the detection and
identification of antigens (bacteria, viruses and toxins) associated
with infectious disease and bio-warfare agents (anthrax, plague,
salmonella, tularemia, SEB, Botulinum Toxins, Ricin, Venezuelan
Equine Encephalitis (VEE), Brucella), chemical water testers.
*
Cookware
Dishes and utensils, stainless steel air-tight and water-tight
containers with rubber seals and lock down lids, kerosene
cookers, solar panel cookers, can-opener, and containers.
*
Toilet
Portable toilets, emergency toilet alternative disposable bags
(blend of polymers and enzymes that instantly gel liquid and
break down solid waste), toilet tissue rolls.
*
Other survival equipment
Solar- and dynamo-operated multi-band radios, emergency
blankets, emergency ponchos, body warmer packs, long term
food storage units, water storage containers, water filters &
sanitation supplies, masks, banana oil fit test ampoules, (to check
for proper fit of protective masks), protective mask wipes,
goggles, protective suits, boots.
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