Educating the Public about Weapons of Mass Destruction
"Five Facts about Five Fears"

by Don Farkas

July 22, 2004

Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, concerns have frequently been heard about the risks of attacks by terrorists using weapons of mass destruction (WMD's). Yesterday's report issued by the bipartisan Congressional Commission that investigated the 9-11 attacks underscore that the current risks of a "catastrophic" attack inside the United States, possibly involving some sort of WMD, remain high.

So did the recently higher than usual number of warnings being issued by "senior intelligence officials," including those given several days ago at a live-televised news conference by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, who was accompanied at the podium by Attorney General John Ashcroft,

Many of the public have expressed having an interest in learning more about what specific types of WMD threats may exist and about what reasonable precautions they could take in the event of an attack with WMD's. While a great deal of information about the subject of WMD's already exists, some may want a less voluminous summary of basic information and precautions, presented in a way that is simple to understand, practical to do, and easy to remember.

In response to this perceived need for a simplified public educational tool about WMD's, I sought suggestions for drafting a proposed informational pamphlet from different sources. The result, called "Weapons of Mass Destruction: Five Facts about Five Fears", includes information from the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the disaster preparedness organization based in Brentwood, California (called Emergency Response Corps), and from biological and radiological weapons experts.

Iincluded are Larry Grimm, an expert of Environmental Health and Safety of UCLA Radiation Safety, and Peter Katona, MD, FACP, an Associate Professor at the UCLA School of Medicine who is an expert on infectious diseases and is a Member of the L.A. County Department of Heath Services Advisory Panel on Biologic Terrorism. Many of their excellant suggestions were incorporated into the proposed pamphlet and their contributions are gratefully acknowledged.

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Weapons of Mass Destruction:
Five Facts about Five Fears

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This pamphlet summarizes some basic information about the five known types of "weapons of mass destruction" (WMD's), along with a brief description of some practical measures one could use to intelligently respond in the hopefully unlikely event such weapons are ever used on us.

PLEASE NOTE: Undertaking expensive and extraordinary precautions such as building fully equiped bomb shelters with air filtration systems, or obtaining "HAZMAT" suits, gas masks, radiation detectors, etc., would probably not be very useful or practical for most people. It is highly unlikely these would be near enough, or maintained well enough over time, to be available or useful in a real attack.

To generally prepare your family against a possible attack by WMD's, probably the most realistic preparations that one could make are essentially the same as those that have been suggested for preparing for natural disasters.

These include:

	having a home evacuation plan with agreed upon alternative meeting places,
	out-of-state telephone contacts,
	a list of important telephone and insurance policy numbers,
	emergency supplies of water (at least one gallon per person per day for one or two weeks),
	non-perishable food,
	tent shelters and sleeping bags,
	first aid and sanitary supplies with any needed medicines,
	extra eyeglasses,
	cash in small denominations,
	emergency tools (such as a crowbar, axe, shovel, adjustible wrench, N-95 rated construction-type masks, goggles, leather gloves, rubber gloves),
	heavy duty work shoes,
	plastic sheeting, garbage bags, rope, duct tape, cleaning supplies, mops, buckets, and brooms,
	battery powered radio,
	manual can openers,
	working household smoke alarms, and
	and portable "ABC" rated fire extinguishers.
Additional emergency supplies (including water, walking shoes, battery powered radio, and a jacket) should also be kept in your vehicle in case you happen to be away from home at the time.

# 1) FIVE KNOWN TYPES OF "WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION"

There are currently five known types of "weapons of mass destruction" (WMD). The names of these five types ironically spell out the mnemonic "B-NICE": (1) Biological, (2) Nuclear, (3) Incendiary, (4) Chemical, (5) Explosive.

In the event of an explosion or an extremely bright flash of light, you should immediately duck and take cover in the nearest protective location to minimize possible thermal and blast affects. After the blast, you should then move to an upwind location where it is most safe to avoid possible secondary fires, and breathing or ingesting dangerous dust, fumes, smoke, or fallout.

If you happen to be in a vehicle, roll up all windows and turn off any ventilation fans bringing in outside air. Turn on radios and listen for emergency instructions and warnings.

Especially with regard to a potential biological, chemical, or radioactive material dispersion device ("dirty bomb") attack, make a decision as to whether it is safer to move away from the threatening agent, or else "shelter in place" within some type of protected space or barrier.

Report the discovery of any suspicious substance, device, or container to local authorities. A package or envelope may be suspicious if it is unusually thick, heavy, stiff, unbalanced at one end, has no return address or has an unusual writing style, "grease" marks caused by "sweating" of an explosive, unusual smell, is very tightly sealed or taped shut, etc. Do not open, shake, or empty any suspicious envelope or package.

If it is found indoors, immediately leave and close off the area, summon emergency help, and do not allow anyone else to enter. Shut down all air ventilation systems in the building.

# 2) FIVE ROUTES OF ENTRY FOR HARMFUL FACTORS FROM WMD's TO EFFECT YOUR BODY

There are five possible routes of entry of potentially harmful factors from WMD's into your body: (1) Inhalation, (2) Absorption, (3) Ingestion, (4) Injection, (5) Psychological.

By its very nature, the purpose of a terrorist attack is often to cause fear in a population that will interfere with the normal functioning of the target society and its economy. Accordingly, people should remember that their greatest danger of injury may not come directly from the threatening agent itself, but rather from panic that may result.

Actions taken in fear and panic, such as immediately rushing through a potentially dangerous area in an attempt to return home or retreive children from schools, might not be helpful to either you or your children in the event of an attack.

Consider that schools typically have well developed emergency plans that may likely keep your child safer than you could do in a panic. Becoming stuck and vulnerably exposed in gridlocked traffic may also be expected due to potential road hazards and the blocked vehicles of those who do not know any better.

If you are physically hurt after an attack, make a decision as to whether it is safer to seek medical attention as soon as possible, or else wait until authorities instruct that travel through the area has become safe. Generally, because large doses of radiation are required to cause an immediate threat to your body, a short exposure to radiation/radioactive materials will rarely pose a threat that would be more risky than not seeking treatment for a serious physical injury.

However, if you have a good reason to suspect some other immediate danger, such as might exist after an attack by chemical or biological weapons, you will have to also consider those factors before traveling to minimize your risks.

# 3) FIVE CLASSES OF CHEMICAL AGENTS

There are five common classes of harmful chemical agents: (1) Nerve agents, (2) Blister agents, (3) Blood agents, (4) Choking agents, (5) Irritating agents.

Protect yourself by preventing or limiting contact, blocking routes of entry into your body, and preventing inadvertent secondary contamination. Report any suspicious substance, device, package, or envelope to local authorities. Do not open or shake a suspicious container or try to clean up the substance. If the suspicious substance or container is found inside of a building, seal off all affected rooms and shut down the ventilation system.

# 4) FIVE TYPES OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

There are five primary types of harmful biological agents: (1) Bacteria, (2) Viruses, (3) Rickettsia, (4) Toxins, (5) Prions.

Protect yourself by frequent hand washing, preventing or limiting contact with possibly contaminated surfaces, and blocking routes of entry into your body. Possibly useful only in situations involving certain communicable types of biological agents, would be attempts to prevent contagion by wearing surgical or construction-type, OSHA N-95 rated masks.

Another useful protection would be early detection and isolation of persons exhibiting possible exposure signs such as elevated body temperatures, or rash-like lesions on the body which cover even the palms and soles of the feet.

The use of insect repellants containing DEET, the wearing of long pants and long sleeved clothing, and avoiding being outside during twilight hours, would be useful to help ward off being bitten by possible insect vectors (such as mosquitos, fleas, ticks, and mites) that might carry harmful biological agents.

Inanimate surfaces (but not people, food, or drinking water) can be decontaminated of most harmful biological agents using a bleach solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. Attempts to self medicate with available antibiotics as a protective, preventative measure may not only be useless, but dangerous as well.

# 5) FIVE GENERAL PROTECTIVE MEASURES TO BE REMEMBERED FOR ALL KINDS OF ATTACKS

There are five general protective measures that should be remembered:

(1) DISTANCE OR BARRIER: Without joining in a panic (as that may also likely increase your risk of injuries), try to get away from the contaminated or affected area and into a protected area, as soon as possible. Do not touch possibly contaminated persons or objects without having proper protective gear. Do not ingest food or water that may have become contaminated.

(2) COVER MOUTH, NOSE, EYES, & SKIN: If you absolutely must traverse a contaminated area for some reason, protect your body, and especially more vulnerable mucous membrane areas, as much as possible. For example, wear a mask (even if only a wet or dry cloth covering your mouth), goggles, gowns and shoe coverings if available, and roll down long sleaves and keep clothing buttoned up.

(3) REMOVE CONTAMINATED CLOTHING: As soon as possible, completely remove and safely dispose of any and all clothing that may have become contaminated by any life-threatening agent! Do not be bashful if it might save your life!

(4) GENTLY DECONTAMINATE SKIN: Shower with soap or, preferably, antibacterial soap as soon as possible using copious amounts of water. DO NOT SCRUB as this may actually make it easier for chemical or biological agents to penetrate the skin. Rinse eyes thouroughly.

(5) PREVENT ACCIDENTAL RE-CONTAMINATION: Safely dispose of any contaminated clothing, used cleaning supplies, waste water, or other possibly contaminated items, into containers (such as sealed plastic garbage bags) which have been labeled and placed away from yourself or others.

If fashioning an emergency shelter, seal windows, doors, and air vents as much as possible. The use of basements or interior, windowless rooms may be best.

Listen to news reports to help determine when best to leave.

Anyone who has any questions or comments is invited to contact or call:

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Don Farkas

Chair of the ad hoc Bel Air Public Safety Advisory Committee (BAPSAC)
Former BABC NC Public Safety Committee Chairperson

Email: donfarkas@belairmail.com

Phone - (310) 472-4822

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