1. Are You Prepared

What is an Emergency Disaster?

Bioterrorism

A bioterrorism attack is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs (agents) used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. These agents are typically found in nature, but it is possible that they could be changed to increase their ability to cause disease, make them resistant to current medicines, or to increase their ability to be spread into the environment. Biological agents can be spread through the air, through water, or in food. Terrorists may use biological agents because they can be extremely difficult to detect and do not cause illness for several hours to several days. Some bioterrorism agents, like the smallpox virus, can be spread from person to person and some, like anthrax, can not Bioterrorism Agent Categories.

Bioterrorism agents can be separated into three categories, depending on how easily they can be spread and the severity of illness or death they cause. Category A agents are considered the highest risk and Category C agents are those that are considered emerging threats for disease.

Radiation (Radiological/Nuclear)

Terrorist attack has moved to the forefront of emergency department and Emergency Medical Services planning. The use of radiologic weaponry is one threat that must be considered. In addition to attacks by terrorists, preparations must also be made for a nuclear power plant disaster or contamination by other radiologic medical sources. Other radiation emergencies include lost radiation sources, transportation accidents and accidents involving satellites containing radioactive materials.

All organisms are continuously exposed to radiation from either natural or synthetic sources. According to the CDC, the average dose of radiation an individual receives per year is estimated to be 3.6 milliSieverts (mSv), 80% of which is from natural sources and 20% of which is from man-made sources. The full effects of low-dose natural radiation are not known, but high doses have been shown to be carcinogenic. At very high-dose exposures over a short period of time, immediate and lethal health effects can occur.

Generally, radiological and/or nuclear contamination means that radioactive materials in the form of gases, liquids, or solids are released into the environment and contaminate people externally, internally, or both. An external surface of the body, such as the skin, can become contaminated, and if radioactive materials get inside the body through the lungs, gut, or wounds, the contaminant can become deposited internally. The toxicity caused by radiation is directly related to the quantity of energy deposited into the living organism and the subsequent disruption of metabolic and reproductive pathways. Low-level exposure from accidental contact with radioactive isotopes in laboratory research may lead to relatively minor toxicity. Alternatively, acute sickness and even death may occur after the inappropriate handling of high-level radioactive material such as cobalt-60 from radiographic or radiotherapy machinery. In a terrorism context, a radiation dispersal device (RDD), “dirty bomb,” could result in conventional blast and thermal injuries. If these devices are laced with significant amounts of radioactive material, the additional risk of radiation exposure would exist for both bomb victims and rescue workers. Detonation of nuclear weapons or improvised nuclear devices would lead to catastrophic blast and thermal injuries in addition to far-reaching lethal radiation consequences.

Chemical

A chemical emergency can be an accident that releases a hazardous amount of a chemical into the environment. Accidents can happen underground, on railroad tracks or highways, and at manufacturing plants. These accidents can result in a fire or explosion and sometimes you may not be able to see or smell anything unusual.

Hazardous chemicals could also be used to intentionally harm people. Chemicals could be stolen from industrial facilities, such as chlorine, ammonia, and benzene. Others are found in nature - the chemical agent Ricin is produced when castor oil is made from castor beans. Some could be made from everyday items including household cleaners.