DISASTER! - Homeland Security and Emergency Management ...

Treatment: BZ is treated with an antidote that reverses symptoms for anhour. May need repeated doses since effects can last for hours or days.Chlorine (Choking / Lung / Pulmonary) - is used in industry (to bleachpaper or cloth), in water (to kill germs), and in household products.Chlorine can be in the form of a poisonous gas or gas can be pressurizedand cooled into a liquid. When gas comes in contact with moist tissues(eyes, throat, or lungs), an acid is produced that can damage these tissues.Chlorine is not flammable but reacts explosively if mixed with certainliquids. Terrorists use bombs on chlorine trucks to spread deadly fumes.How it spreads: Chlorine could be released into water, food or air. Peoplecan be exposed by drinking or eating something contaminated with excessamounts of chlorine or by inhaling the poisonous gas. Chlorine gas is yellow-green,smells like bleach, and stays close to the ground as it spreads.Signs & Symptoms: Depends on how much and how exposed but signsmay show up during or right after exposure to dangerous amounts ofchlorine:• Skin - if gas: burning pain, redness, and blistersif liquid: skin white or waxy, numbness (like frostbite)• Eyes - burning feeling, blurred vision, watery eyes• Nose, throat & lungs (respiratory tract) - burning feelingin nose and throat, tightness in chest, coughing, hard timebreathing or shortness of breath, fluid builds up in lungswithin 2 to 4 hours• Stomach / gastrointestinal: puking, sick to stomachTreatment: - There is no antidote for chlorine exposure -- main things areto remove it from body and seek medical attention as soon as possible.• First - leave area as quickly as possible... if outdoors - get to high ground (avoid low-lying areas)... if in building - get outside to high ground and upwind• If inhaled - get fresh air as quickly and calmly as possible• If on clothing or skin - remove clothes and shoes that arecontaminated but don’t pull anything over head - cut it offbody. If possible, seal clothing in plastic bag, then seal thatbag in a bag. Immediately wash body with clean water andsoap. Ask officials how to dispose of bags.• If in eyes - remove contacts and put in a bag - do not putback in eyes! If eyes burning or vision blurred, rinse eyeswith plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If wearing glasses,wash them with soap and water before putting back on.90 www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325