MAJOR CHEMICAL EMERGENCIES
A major chemical emergency is an accident which 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 sometimes result in a fire or explosion, but many times you can not see or smell anything unusual.

How You May Be Notified of a Major Chemical Emergency

In the event of a major chemical emergency, you will be notified by the authorities. To get your attention, a siren could sound, you may be called by telephone, or emergency personnel may drive by and give instructions over a loudspeaker. Officials could even come to your door.

Listen carefully to radio or television emergency broadcast stations (EBS), and strictly follow instructions. Your life could depend on it.

You Will Be Told

The type of health hazard
The area affected
How to protect yourself
Evacuation routes (if necessary)
Shelter locations
Type and location of medical facilities
And the phone numbers to call if you need extra help.

Do not call the telephone company, and do not call EMS, 9-1-1 or the operator for information. Dial these numbers only for a possible life threatening emergency.

Shelter-in-Place
One of the basic instructions you may be given in a chemical emergency is to shelter-in-place. This is a precaution aimed to keep you and your family safe while remaining in your home. If you are told to shelter-in-place, take your children and pets indoors immediately.

While gathering your family, you can provide a minimal amount of protection to your breathing by covering our mouth and nose with a damp cloth.
Close all windows in your home.
Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems.
Close the fireplace damper.
Go to an above ground room (not the basement) with the fewest windows and doors.

Take your Family Disaster Supplies Kit with you.
Wet some towels and jam them in the crack under the doors.

Tape around doors, windows, exhaust fans or vents. Use the plastic garbage bags to cover windows, outlets and heat registers.

If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds or curtains. To avoid injury, stay away from the windows.

Stay in the room and listen to your radio until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate.

Evacuation
Authorities may decide to evacuate an area for your protection. Again, it is important to stay calm, listen carefully and follow all instructions.

If you are told to evacuate, listen to your radio to make sure the evacuation order applies to you and to understand if you are to evacuate immediately or if you have time to pack some essentials. Do not use your telephone.

If You Are Told to Evacuate Immediately

Take your Family Disaster Supplies Kit and medications

Close and lock your windows

Shut off all vents

Lock the door

Move quickly and calmly

If authorities tell you to evacuate because of a possible chemical emergency, take your Family Disaster Supplies Kit and pack:

A change of clothing for each member of the family

Medication, eyeglasses, hearing aids or dentures or things like canes and walkers

Personal items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, etc.

Items for your baby such as diapers, formula or baby food

Books, puzzles or cards and games for entertainment. Do not assume that a shelter will have everything you need. In most cases the shelters will provide only emergency items such as meals, cots and blankets.

You don't need to turn off your refrigerator or freezer, but you should turn off all other appliances and lights before locking your home as you leave.

Check on neighbors to make sure they have been notified, and offer help to those with disabilities or other special needs.

If you need a ride, ask a neighbor. If no neighbor is available to help you, listen to the emergency broadcast station for further instructions. Take only one car to the evacuation site. Close your car windows and air vents and turn off the heater or air conditioner. Don't take shortcuts because a shortcut may put you in the path of danger. For your safety, follow the exact route you are told to take.

Emergency Procedures for School Children
In an emergency, your children may be sheltered-in-place or evacuated from school. If protective actions are being taken at your children's school, do not go to the school. School personnel are trained to handle emergencies.
Do not call your child's school. You could tie up a phone line that is needed for emergency communications.

For further information, listen to local emergency radio and TV stations to learn when and where you can pick up your children.

Chemical Poisoning
There are several symptoms of chemical poisoning whether by swallowing, touching, or breathing:
Difficulty breathing
Changes in skin color
Headache or blurred vision
Dizziness
Irritated eyes, skin, throat
Unusual behavior.
Clumsiness or lack of coordination
Stomach cramps or diarrhea

If you think you have been exposed to a toxic chemical, in the United States call the Poison Control Center, EMS, or 9-1-1 or the operator, whichever applies to your area.

If you see or smell something which you think may be dangerous, or find someone who has been overcome with toxic vapors, your first job is to make sure that you don't become a victim. If you remain in a dangerous area and become injured or unconscious, you can not help yourself or any victims.

Because chemical poisoning can be a life threatening emergency
Send someone to call EMS, immediately.
Tell the operator the location of the emergency and the phone number from where you are calling.
Describe what has happened, how many people are involved and what is being done to help.
Stay on the phone until the operator tells you to hang up.
If you are trained in CPR or first aid, and feel confident that you are not in danger, check the person for life-threatening injuries. Administer appropriate treatment, and then deal with the chemical injuries.
If you have not recently taken a course in CPR or first aid, in the United States and its territories, contact the American Red Cross for course information and schedules.

First Aid Treatment For Burns
A chemical burn can be minor or life-threatening, but proper treatment can reduce the chance of infection and the damage caused by contact with the chemical.

Remove any affected clothing or jewelry from the injury. Use lots of cool running water to flush the chemical from the skin until emergency help arrives. The running water will dilute the chemical fast enough to prevent the injury from getting worse.
Use the same treatment for eye burns and remove any contact lenses. Be careful to flush the eye from the nose outward.
If no large amount of clean water is available, gently brush the chemical off the skin and away from the victim and you.
If the chemical is on the face, neck or shoulders, ask the victim to close his or her eyes before brushing off the chemical.
Cover the wound very loosely with a dry, sterile or clean cloth so that the cloth will not stick to the wound. Do not put any medication on the wound. Seek medical attention immediately.

If you believe you have been contaminated with a chemical, in the United States call the Poison Control Center, EMS, 9-1-1 or the operator immediately. If medical help is not immediately available, remove your clothing starting from the top and working your way down to your socks. Use care not to touch your contaminated clothing to your bare skin. Place your clothing in a plastic bag so it cannot contaminate other people or things. Take a thorough shower to wash any chemical away. Re-dress in clean clothing and go for medical help at your first opportunity.