**General Chemical Agent Extended and Short Messages**

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

**Table of Contents**

[**General Chemical Agent Extended Message**
2](#__RefHeading___Toc161818821)

[**General Chemical Agent Short Message**
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Grade Level: 8.2

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc161818821 .anchor}**General Chemical Agent
Extended Message**

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

**Points:**

1.  What is happening?

2.  What to do if you are near the release of the chemical -- either in
    the immediate area or the surrounding area.

3.  What to do if you have symptoms or think you have had contact with a
    chemical

4.  Can the illness caused by a chemical agent be spread from person to
    person?

5.  What are the symptoms of contact with various chemical agents?

6.  What to do if you are in a car that is in the immediate area of the
    release

7.  What to do if you are concerned about *xxx* chemical agent.

8.  What is being done and how to get more information.

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*NOTE TO HHS USERS: Initial health and safety information is almost
identical for all chemical agents, with the exception of symptoms. These
messages are general for all categories of chemical agents. Specific
symptoms are listed by category of agent. It will be necessary to
carefully review and revise the messages during an actual event once the
agent is confirmed*.

***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 suspect that a chemical agent has been released in
    the *xxx* *area* or *xxx building.*

-   *xxx number* of cases have been reported, with symptoms of
    \[*chemical agent*\]. These symptoms include: \[*list of
    symptoms\].*

*NOTE TO HHS USER: Give description of agent (e.g., colorless gas,
odorless, or mild smell of garlic or almond), depending upon the agent.*

-   If the chemical was released in your building*,* follow emergency
    personnel's instructions. You should leave the building as quickly
    as possible.

-   How people were exposed to this chemical or the full extent of the
    problem is unclear.

-   Local, state, and federal officials, including HHS, FBI, and
    Homeland Security, are working together to find out more about this
    situation. Updates will be made as soon as officials know more.

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-   If you are near the *xxx* *area*, protect yourself and your family
    by staying home or where you are and wait for further instructions.

-   If you are not close to the *xxx area*, stay where you are and avoid
    unnecessary travel until further instructions.

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

-   For more information on chemical agents, go to the HHS Web site at
    [[www.hhs.gov]{.underline}](http://www.hhs.gov/), the Centers for
    Disease Control and Prevention's Chemical Emergencies Web site at
    <http://www.bt.cdc.gov/chemical/>, or call the CDC Hotline at
    1-800-CDC-INFO for the latest updates.

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

***What to do if you are near the release of the chemical -- either in
the immediate area or the surrounding area:***

-   If you are outdoors, emergency personnel may ask you to leave the
    area or find shelter nearby. If you are told to go indoors or you
    are already inside a shelter, follow these instructions:

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

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

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-   ***Seal the room***. Use plastic and duct tape to close all
    openings, including windows, doors, vents, and electrical outlets.
    Even if you cannot seal all openings, follow the other instructions.

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

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-   ***Turn to the radio, television, or Internet news for updated
    health and safety announcements*.** Announcements will be made about
    when it is safe to go outside.

***What to do if you have symptoms or think you have had contact with a
chemical.***

-   Do not touch other people to prevent getting the chemical on them.

-   Remove your outer layer of clothing.

-   Do ***not*** remove clothes over your head. If necessary, cut
    clothes off.

-   If possible, put clothes inside a bag and seal it. Put this sealed
    bag into another bag and seal again.

-   Wash your hair and body thoroughly with soap and water right away.

-   If eyes are burning or irritated, rinse with water for 10-15
    minutes. Do not use soap in your eyes.

-   After you have followed these instructions, call your doctor or
    local public health department right away at *xxx-xxx-xxxx*. They
    will tell you how and where to get more help.

***Can the illness caused by a chemical agent be spread from person to
person?***

-   The ***illness*** caused by a chemical agent ***cannot*** spread
    from person to person. It is ***not*** a contagious disease that can
    be spread by coughing or sneezing.

-   People can spread the ***chemical*** if it is on their skin,
    clothing, or hair. People can also spread the ***chemical*** if it
    is in their body fluids, such as vomit. If someone else comes into
    contact with the chemical in these ways, they may become ill.

-   Once exposed people take off their clothes and shower, most of the
    chemical will be removed and is much less likely to be spread by
    these people.

***What are the symptoms of contact with various chemical agents?***

> ***Symptoms of contact with a blister agent:***

-   Contact with this type of chemical causes blistering on the skin and
    in the nose, mouth, and throat.

-   After contact with a blister agent, symptoms may occur immediately
    or may take up to 24 hours to appear.

-   First symptoms may include red, itchy, or painful skin, followed by
    blisters.

-   Later symptoms may include pain or swelling in the eyes and lungs,
    tears in the eyes, and trouble breathing.

> ***Symptoms of contact with a blood agent:***

-   Contact with this type of chemical deprives the blood and organs of
    oxygen.

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-   After contact with a blood agent, symptoms may occur immediately or
    may take up to 24 hours to appear.

-   In general, symptoms may include rapid breathing, nausea,
    convulsions, and loss of consciousness.

> ***Symptoms of contact with a nerve agent:***

-   Contact with this type of chemical can damage the nervous system and
    affect movement and breathing.

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-   After contact with a nerve agent, symptoms may appear immediately or
    up to 18 hours later.

-   Symptoms include seizures, drooling, eye irritations, sweating or
    twitching, blurred vision, and muscle weakness.

> ***Symptoms of contact with a choking agent:***

-   This type of chemical attacks the respiratory system and causes
    difficulty breathing.

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-   After contact with a choking agent, symptoms may occur immediately
    or may take 24 to 48 hours to appear.

-   In general, symptoms may include coughing; burning in the eyes,
    nose, or throat; blurred vision; upset stomach; fluid in the lungs;
    and difficulty breathing.

*NOTE TO HHS USERS: Officials might offer particular instructions for
reducing exposure if people are in their cars. Following is a message
for staying in the car and pulling over.*

***If you are in your car in xxx area, you can help prevent being
exposed to the chemical by following these steps:***

1.  Pull over to the side of the road in a manner that will not block or
    interfere with the movement of emergency vehicles.

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1.  Temporarily turn off the engine and shut down any vents that draw
    outside air, including those of the air conditioner. Running the
    engine and driving pull outside air into the car and could expose
    you to additional chemicals.

2.  To minimize the amount of chemical you inhale, cover your mouth and
    nose with a cloth, such as a scarf or a handkerchief.

3.  Listen for further instructions from emergency personnel on the
    scene or listen for news on the radio.

***What to do if you are concerned about xxx chemical agent***

-   It is natural to be concerned or afraid at a time like this. Staying
    informed and following instructions from public health officials
    will help you stay as safe and healthy as possible.

-   Many chemical agents are commonly used in industry and household
    products. In this situation, \[*chemical agent*\] may have been
    released deliberately. We are not sure at this time if this is the
    case.

-   If you near the *xxx* *area*, protect yourself and your loved ones
    by staying home or where you are and wait for further instructions
    from officials.

-   If you are not close to the *xxx* area, stay where you are and avoid
    unnecessary travel until further notice.

-   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***

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-   Federal, state, and local health officials are working together to
    find and treat people who have symptoms or who may have had contact
    with *xxx* chemical agent. They are also taking actions to prevent
    others from being exposed.

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-   Officials will share information and give more instructions as the
    situation develops and they learn more.

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

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-   For more information on botulism, visit the HHS Web site at
    [http:www.hhs.gov](http://www.hhs.gov/), the Centers for Disease
    Control and Prevention's Chemical Emergencies Web site at
    <http://www.bt.cdc.gov/chemical/>, or call the CDC Hotline at
    1-800-CDC-INFO for the latest information.

Grade Level: 9.3

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc161818822 .anchor}**General Chemical Agent 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 suspect that a chemical agent has been deliberately
    released in the *xxx* *area* or *xxx* building*.*

-   *xxx* number cases have been reported with symptoms of \[*chemical
    agent*\]. These symptoms include: \[*list of symptoms\].*

*NOTE TO HHS USERS: Give description of agent (e.g., colorless gas,
odorless or mild smell of garlic or almond), depending upon the agent.*

-   If you are outdoors in the *xxx area*, emergency workers will ask
    you to leave the area or find shelter nearby.

-   If you are indoors in the *xxx area*, go to the highest level of the
    building and close windows, doors and fireplace dampers. Turn off
    heating and cooling systems and close vents so that the room is not
    exposed to outside air.

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-   If the chemical was released in your building*,* follow emergency
    personnel's instructions.

-   How people were exposed to this chemical or the full extent of the
    problem is unclear.

-   Local, state, and federal officials, including HHS, FBI, and
    Homeland Security, are working together to find out more about this
    situation. Updates will be made as soon as officials know more.

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```
-   If you are near the *xxx* *area*, protect yourself and your family
    by staying home or where you are and wait for further instructions.

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

-   For more information on chemical agents, go to the HHS Web site at
    [[www.hhs.gov]{.underline}](http://www.hhs.gov/), the Centers for
    Disease Control and Prevention's Chemical Emergencies Web site at
    <http://www.bt.cdc.gov/chemical/>, or call the CDC Hotline at
    1-800-CDC-INFO for the latest updates.