**Dirty Bomb** **Extended and Short Messages**

**Health and Safety Information for the First Hours**

**Table of Contents**

[**Dirty Bomb Extended Message** 2](#__RefHeading___Toc161819502)

[**Dirty Bomb Short Message** 5](#__RefHeading___Toc161819503)

Grade Level: 9.3

**Dirty Bomb Extended Message**

Health and Safety Information for the First Hours

**Points:**

1.  What is happening?

2.  What is a dirty bomb?

3.  What to do if you are in the immediate area of the blast and have
    been severely injured

4.  What to do if you are in the immediate area of the blast but have
    not been injured or you have minor injuries

5.  How can I help protect myself indoors?

6.  What to do if you are concerned about the blast but do not live near
    *xxx area*

7\. What is being done and how to get more information

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***What is happening?***

-   This is an urgent health message from the U.S. Department of Health
    and Human Services (HHS). Please pay careful attention to this
    message to protect your health and that of others.

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-   Public officials believe that a bomb containing radioactive
    material, sometimes called a "dirty bomb," has been exploded in the
    *xxx area*.

-   Keep in mind that a dirty bomb is NOT a nuclear bomb. Most of the
    injuries from a dirty bomb, such as burns or bleeding, are from the
    blast itself.

-   Some people who were in the immediate area of the blast may
    experience minor radiation sickness, which can start within minutes
    and last for several days. This typically includes nausea, vomiting,
    and diarrhea.

-   If you are not very close to the blast, you are not in any immediate
    danger.

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-   Local, state, and federal officials, including HHS, FBI, and
    Homeland Security, are working together. Updated announcements will
    be made as soon as officials know more.

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-   In addition, public officials are starting to close off the area,
    find and treat anyone with injuries, and help people in the area
    decontaminate themselves.

-   Stay informed and follow officials' instructions to stay as safe as
    possible.

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-   We have challenges ahead and are working to find out more about this
    explosion. By staying informed and following instructions from
    health officials, you can protect yourself, your family, and the
    community against this public health threat.

-   This message contains additional information that can help protect
    your health and the health of others.

***What is a dirty bomb*?**

-   A dirty bomb is a device that uses conventional explosives, such as
    dynamite, to spread radioactive material in the form of powder or
    pellets.

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-   A dirty bomb is *not* a nuclear bomb. It does not produce the
    tremendous force and destruction of a nuclear blast. It spreads
    limited amounts of radioactive material in the surrounding area.

-   The primary dangers from a dirty bomb are the injuries associated
    with the explosion itself, such as burns or bleeding.

-   Some people in the immediate area of the blast may have minor
    radiation sickness, which can start within minutes and last for
    several days. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
    People with radiation sickness may also have some skin damage that
    can start to show within a few hours after exposure and can include
    swelling, itching, and redness.

-   The level of radiation in a dirty bomb is unlikely to be enough to
    cause severe radiation sickness.

-   Radiation sickness is treated by managing the symptoms, providing
    supportive care, and preventing infections. A variety of drugs can
    be used to treat radiation sickness.

***What to do if you are in the immediate area of the blast and have
been severely injured***

-   If you or family members have life-threatening injuries associated
    with the explosion, such as severe burns or bleeding, call 911 or
    your local hospital at *xxx-xxx-xxxx* and ask for instructions. You
    may have been exposed to radiation so specific precautions may be
    needed. *\[Policy decision needed: Assumption is made that treatment
    centers may not be established in the first hours after an
    explosion. Should people seek medical care in a hospital? What are
    the options given public health concerns about spreading
    radiation?\]*

***What to do if you are in the immediate area of the blast but have not
been injured or you have minor injuries***

-   Stay indoors. Do not leave shelter for care of minor injuries, such
    as cuts or scrapes.

-   Stay away from explosion debris and radioactive debris in the area.

-   Call your doctor or local public health department right away at
    *xxx-xxx-xxxx* if you feel sick. Describe your symptoms or your
    injuries.

-   Being where the dirty bomb exploded does not mean that you had
    contact with radiation. However, if you are concerned about contact
    with radiation or are sick, follow the steps below to help protect
    yourself and others.

***Decontamination Instructions:***

-   Following these steps will eliminate a large portion of radioactive
    material that may be on you.

1\. Do not touch other people. Touching others can spread radiation.

2\. Remove your outer layer of clothing including shoes or boots.

3\. Do not remove the clothes over your head. If necessary, cut clothes
off.

4\. If possible, put the clothes in a plastic bag and seal it. Be sure
to keep cuts and abrasions

covered when handling contaminated items to avoid getting radioactive
material in the cuts.

5\. Put the sealed plastic bag where others will not touch it. Keep it
until authorities tell you

what to do with it.

6\. Take a shower or wash yourself the best you can with soap and
lukewarm water.

***How can I help protect myself indoors?***

-   ***Go to the lowest level*** of the building. Find a room with as
    few windows and doors as possible.

-   ***Reduce air flow from outside to inside***. Close vents, air
    conditioning, fireplace dampers, and anything else that exposes the
    room to outside air.

-   ***Eat only sealed, stored food and water***. Do not eat or drink
    anything that may have been exposed to radiation or radioactive
    debris.

-   ***Turn to the radio, television, or Internet news for updated
    health and safety announcements.*** Emergency workers will inform
    you when it is safe to go outside or evacuate to another location.

***What to do if you are concerned about the blast but do not live near
xxx area***

-   It is natural to be concerned or afraid at a time like this.
    Remember that a dirty bomb is NOT a nuclear bomb. Most of the health
    risks are due to the explosion itself, not to long-term radiation
    exposure.

-   Until authorities learn more about the situation, stay away from the
    immediate area of the blast.

-   Don't drive unless absolutely necessary to keep the roads clear for
    emergency workers.

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-   Avoid public transportation, such as buses, subways, or taxis. If
    radioactive material was involved, people who have had contact with
    the radiation may also contaminate cars or the public transportation
    system.

    -   Stay informed by turning to the radio, television, or Internet
        news for updated health and safety announcements.

***What is being done and how to get more information***

-   Federal, state, and local officials are working together to find and
    treat people who need help.

-   Local authorities will monitor levels of radiation and determine
    what should be done to protect public health. Public officials will
    share updated information as soon as they learn more.

-   Go to \[[insert local media information here]{.underline}\] to hear
    the latest information from local officials.

-   For more information on dirty bombs, go to the HHS Web site at
    [www.hhs.gov](http://www.hhs.gov/)[,]{.underline} or the CDC Web
    site at <http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/dirtybombs.asp>, or call
    the CDC Hotline at 1-800-CDC-INFO.

Grade Level: 9.5

**Dirty Bomb Short Message**

Health and Safety Information for the First Hours

-   This is an urgent health message from the U.S. Department of Health
    and Human Services.

-   Public officials believe that a bomb containing radioactive
    material, sometimes called a "dirty bomb," has been exploded in the
    *xxx area*.

-   Keep in mind that a dirty bomb is NOT a nuclear bomb. Most of the
    injuries from a dirty bomb are from the blast itself, such as burns
    or bleeding.

-   If you are not very close to the blast, you are not in any immediate
    danger.

-   Some people who were in the immediate area of the blast may
    experience minor radiation sickness, which can start within minutes
    and last for several days. This typically includes nausea, vomiting,
    and diarrhea.

-   Local, state, and federal officials are working together to
    determine the extent and type of contamination. They will update you
    as soon as they learn more.

-   In addition, public officials are starting to close off the area,
    find and treat anyone with injuries, and help people in the area
    decontaminate themselves.

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-   By staying informed and following instructions from health
    officials, you can protect yourself, your family, and the community
    against this public health threat.

-   Go to \[[insert local media information here]{.underline}\] to hear
    the latest information from local officials.

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-   We have challenges ahead, and we are working to find out more about
    this explosion.