People need to have the information and resources to protect themselves from dangerous chemicals. A chemical emergency occurs when a hazardous chemical has been released and the release has the potential for harming people’s health. Chemical releases can be unintentional, as in an industrial accident or natural disaster, or intentional, as in the case of a terrorist attack. During natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, chemicals are most commonly released from business and industries, storage tanks, agricultural facilities, and homes.

It is important to be aware of the sources and chemical that is in your area and how to protect yourselves. Many hazardous chemicals are used in industrial facilities and businesses such as chlorine, ammonia, and benzene. Most people don’t realize that they have hazardous chemicals sitting in their homes and garages in the form of household cleaning products, pesticides, and lawn care products. The most important thing is to protect yourselves and your families from a chemical emergency. Even if you don’t know what the chemical is, you could protect yourself during a chemical emergency. If you suspect someone has been poisoned by a chemical, immediately call 911 or the national poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

There are three steps to protecting yourself during a chemical emergency; personal cleaning and disposal of contaminated clothing, evacuation, and shelter-in-place. Coming in contact with a dangerous chemical may make it necessary for you to remove and dispose of your clothing right away and then wash yourself. This process is called decontamination. If you think you have been exposed to a chemical release, but you have not heard from emergency coordinators, you should (1) quickly remove your clothing, (2) wash yourself, and (3) dispose of your clothing. Quickly take off clothing that has a chemical on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over your head should be cut off to prevent exposure to your face or being inhaled into your lungs. Wash any chemicals from your skin with large amounts of soap and water. If your eyes are burning, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10-15 minutes. After you have washed yourself, place your clothing inside a plastic bag. Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing. Most chemical agents can penetrate clothing and are absorbed rapidly through the skin. Therefore, the most important and most effective decontamination for any chemical exposure is decontamination done within the first minute or two after exposure.

The second step is evacuation. Some kinds of chemical accidents or attacks, such as a train derailment or a terrorist incident, may make staying put dangerous. In such cases, it may be safer for you to evacuate, or leave the immediate area. You will be notified by local police, emergency coordinators, telephone, loud speakers, and/or radio or television emergency broadcast systems if you need to evacuate. Act quickly and follow the instructions. Every situation can be different, so listen closely to the special instruction. You will be instructed to evacuate your home or workplace and proceed to a designated shelter. If you have children in school, they may be sheltered at the school. You should not try to get to the school if the children are being sheltered there. Transporting them from the school will put them, and you, at increased risk. If you have time, call and friend or relative and tell them where you are going and that you are safe.

The final step is Shelter-in-Place. Some kinds of chemical accidents or attacks may make going outdoors dangerous. Leaving the area might take too long or put you in harm’s way. In such a case it may be safer for you to stay indoors than to go outside. “Shelter-in-place” means to make a shelter out of the place you are in. It is a way for you to make the building as safe as possible to protect yourself until help arrives. You should not try to shelter in a vehicle unless you have no other choice. Vehicles are not airtight enough to give you adequate protection from chemicals. Have a shelter-in-place plan. Choose a room with few windows and doors. This room should be as high in the structure as possible to avoid vapors/gases that stay low to the ground. This guideline is different from the sheltering-in-place technique used in tornadoes and other severe weather when the shelter should be low in the home. Know how to shut off your air conditioning and heating system (HVAC) and have an emergency kit with you. Tape plastic over all windows in the room. Use duct tape around the windows and doors and make an unbroken seal. Use the tape over any vents into the room and seal any electrical outlets or other openings. Listen to the radio, loud speakers, and sirens (if in your area) for the “All Clear” announcement indicating that it is safe to leave the shelter.