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Emergency Medical

patient hooked up on electrodes being treated by emergency personnel

September 16, 1999 -- Bound Brook, NJ Members of the Raritan First Aid Squad assist a Bound Brook resident following the flooding in Bound Brook, NJ. (FEMA/Booher)

In a disaster emergency, help may not be arriving soon. Stop any bleeding by using bandages and pressure, and to try to make the injured person comfortable.

  • First Aid. A portal of first aid resources produced by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  • Injuries and Mass Casualty Events. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has information on how and why injuries occur and how to seek help.
  • Brain Injuries and Mass Casualty Events. In mass casualty events, such as the World Trade Center attack or the Oklahoma City bombing, flying debris or falls resulted in traumatic brain injuries. Find out how to identify and seek help from the CDC.

You can get contaminated from flood waters (sewage) or from airborne substances such as smoke, dust or chemical agents. Removing your clothing and washing your body will reduce or remove the chemical so that it is no longer a hazard. This process is called decontamination.

If you think you may have been exposed to a dangerous chemical, quickly cut off your clothing, wash yourself using cold water, and dispose of your exposed clothing in a tightly closed plastic bag. When professional help arrives, let them know that you think you have been exposed so you can get more thoroughly decontaminated.