When a hazardous chemical enters the environment, it can harm people's health. A chemical emergency can be an accident, as in the case of an industrial mishap. It could also be planned, as in the case of a terrorist attack with a chemical weapon.
Although there are no guarantees of safety during a chemical emergency, you can take actions to protect yourself. You should have a disaster plan. Being prepared can help reduce fear, anxiety and losses.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Chemical Emergencies Overview(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/chemical/overview.asp
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Chemical Agents(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/AgentlistChem.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/espanol/agentlistchem.asp
- Chemical Emergencies(American Red Cross) - http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.86f46a12f382290517a8f210b80f78a0/?vgnextoid=17fba5f0f013b110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default
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Chemical Threat(Dept. of Homeland Security) - http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/chemical.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.listo.gov/america/beinformed/chemical.html
- Responding to a Biological or Chemical Threat in the United States(Dept. of State) - Links to PDF - http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/19114.pdf
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Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness(Federal Emergency Management Agency) - Links to PDF - http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/
Also available in Spanish http://www.fema.gov/spanish/areyouready/
- Chemical Agents: Personal Cleaning and Disposal of Contaminated Clothing(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/personalcleaningfacts.asp
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Chemical Agents: Sheltering in Place(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/shelteringfacts.asp
Also available in Spanish http://emergency.cdc.gov/planning/espanol/pdf/shelteringfacts.pdf
- Homeland Security Advisory System(Dept. of Homeland Security) - http://www.dhs.gov/xinfoshare/programs/Copy_of_press_release_0046.shtm
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Respirator Fact Sheet(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) - http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-144/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/2003-144sp.html
- Strategic National Stockpile(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/stockpile/
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ToxFAQs(Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) - http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/es/toxfaqs/es_toxfaqs.html
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TOXNET Databases
(National Library of Medicine) - Databases on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, and related areas - http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/
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Chemical Emergencies(Healthy Roads Media) - http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/english/Files/flv/engchememerg.htm
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How to Recognize if Chemical Agents Have Been Used(Healthy Roads Media) - http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/english/Files/flv/engchemrec.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/spanish/Files/flv/spachemrec.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Chemical Warfare(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=%22Chemical+Warfare%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Using home schooled children in emergency management drills. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19323248&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Medical toxicology and public health--update on research and activities at... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19191216&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Chemical exposure preparedness for emergency departments in a Midwestern city. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19069031&tool=MedlinePlus
- Chemical Emergencies -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=chemical+hazard+release[majr]+OR+(hazardous+substances[mh]+AND+disasters[mh])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+5+Years&tool=MedlinePlus
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Glossary(Dept. of Homeland Security) - http://www.ready.gov/america/other/glossary.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.listo.gov/america/other/glossary.html
- Community and State Information(Dept. of Homeland Security) - http://www.ready.gov/america/local/
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/
- Dept. of Homeland Security - http://www.dhs.gov/
- National Security Emergencies: Things to Know(Federal Emergency Management Agency) - http://www.fema.gov/kids/nse/things_know.htm
- Biodefense and Bioterrorism - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/biodefenseandbioterrorism.html
- Coping with Disasters - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copingwithdisasters.html
- Disaster Preparation and Recovery - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/disasterpreparationandrecovery.html
- Disasters - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/disasters.html
Chemical Emergencies - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/chemicalemergencies.html