What Is a Home Chemical Emergency, and a Major Chemical Emergency?

Transcription

1 Why Talk Abut Chemical Emergencies? Hazardus materials are chemical substances, which if released r misused, can pse a threat t the envirnment. These chemicals are used in industry, agriculture, medicine, research, and cnsumer gds. As many as 500,000 prducts pse physical r health hazards and can be defined as "hazardus chemicals." Each year, ver 1,000 new synthetic chemicals are intrduced. Hazardus materials cme in the frm f explsives, flammable and cmbustible substances, pisns, and radiactive materials. These substances are mst ften released as a result f transprtatin accidents r because f chemical accidents in manufacturing plants. Hazardus materials are mst ften released as a result f transprtatin accidents r because f chemical accidents in manufacturing plants. What Is a Hme Chemical Emergency, and a Majr Chemical Emergency? Chemicals are a natural and imprtant part f ur envirnment. Even thugh we ften dn't think abut it, we use chemicals every day. They can be fund in ur kitchens, medicine cabinets, basements, and garages. Chemicals help us keep ur fd fresh and ur bdies clean. They help ur plants grw and fuel ur cars. And chemicals make it pssible fr us t live lnger, healthier lives. A hme chemical emergency arises when chemicals are used imprperly. Sme chemicals that are safe, and even helpful in small amunts, can be harmful in larger quantities r under certain cnditins. In fact, mst chemical accidents ccur in ur wn hmes, and they can be prevented. A majr chemical emergency is an accident that releases a hazardus amunt f a chemical int the envirnment. Accidents can happen undergrund, n railrad tracks r highways, and at manufacturing plants. These accidents smetimes result in a fire r explsin, but many times yu cannt see r smell anything unusual. In the event f a majr chemical emergency, the authrities will ntify yu. T get yur attentin, a siren culd sund, yu may be called by telephne, r emergency persnnel may drive by and give instructins ver a ludspeaker. Officials might even cme t yur dr. Learn mre abut yur risk f chemical emergencies by cntacting yur lcal pisn cntrl center, lcal authrities n hazardus materials, the Envirnmental Prtectin Agency, yur lcal emergency manager, r lcal American Red Crss chapter. Awareness Infrmatin Yu may be expsed t a chemical even thugh yu may nt be able t see r smell anything unusual. Yu may be expsed in three ways: 1. Breathing the chemical. 2. Swallwing cntaminated fd, water, r medicatin. 3. Tuching the chemical, r cming int cntact with clthing r things that have tuched the chemical. Learn abut chemicals and chemical emergencies: Chemicals are everywhere. They are an imprtant part f life.

2 The mst cmmn chemical accidents ccur in ur wn hmes, and they can be prevented. The best way t avid chemical accidents is t read and fllw the directins fr use, strage, and dispsal f the prduct. Mixing prducts can be hazardus. If yu find smene wh appears t have been injured frm chemical expsure, make sure yu are nt in danger befre administering first aid. If yu think there might be ptential danger, call r yur lcal emergency number. If there is n danger, give first aid as needed. The best way t prtect yurself and yur family is t be prepared. Knwing what t watch fr and hw t respnd will keep yu alert t ptential chemical hazards. Preventing Chemical Emergencies in the Hme Learn abut husehld chemical risk. Cntact authrities n hazardus husehld materials, such as the Envirnmental Prtectin Agency, fr infrmatin abut ptentially dangerus husehld prducts and their antidtes. Ask abut the advisability f maintaining antidtes in yur hme fr cleaners and germicides, dedrizers, detergents, drain and bwl cleaners, gases, hme medicatins, laundry bleaches, liquid fuels, and paint remvers and thinners. Keep all medicines, csmetics, cleaning prducts, and ther husehld chemicals ut f sight and ut f reach f children. The mst cmmn hme chemical emergencies invlve small children eating medicines. Experts in the field f chemical manufacturing suggest that mving hazardus materials ut f sight culd eliminate up t 75 percent f all pisnings f small children. Flush medicines that are n lnger being used r that are utdated dwn the tilet, and place the empty cntainer in the trash. Outdated medicines can smetimes cause ill effects. Flushing them will eliminate the risk f peple r animals picking them ut f garbage. Stre husehld chemicals accrding t the instructins n the label. Nn-fd prducts shuld be stred tightly clsed in their riginal cntainer s yu can always identify the cntents f each cntainer and hw t prperly use the prduct. Avid mixing cmmn husehld chemical prducts. Sme cmbinatins f these prducts, such as ammnia and chlrine bleach, can create txic gases. Always read the directins befre using a new prduct. T avid inhaling dangerus vaprs, d nt use sme prducts in a small, cnfined space. Other prducts shuld nt be used withut glves and eye prtectin t help prevent the chemical frm tuching yur bdy. Read instructins n hw t dispse f chemicals prperly. Imprper dispsal can result in harm t yurself r members f yur family, accidental cntaminatin f the lcal water supply, r harm t ther peple. It is als imprtant t dispse f prducts prperly t preserve the envirnment and prtect wildlife. Plus, sme prducts can be recycled, which helps prtect the envirnment. If yu have questins abut hw t prperly dispse f a chemical, call the facility r the envirnmental r recycling agency. Small amunts f the fllwing prducts can be safely pured dwn the drain with plenty f water: antifreeze, bathrm and glass cleaner, bleach, drain cleaner, fertilizer, husehld disinfectant, laundry and dishwashing detergent, rubbing alchl, rug and uphlstery cleaner, and tilet bwl cleaner. Small amunts f the fllwing prducts shuld be dispsed f by wrapping the cntainer in newspaper and plastic and placing it in the trash: brake fluid, car wax r plish, dish and laundry sap, drain cleaner, fertilizer, furniture and flr plish, insect

3 repellent, nail plish, ven cleaner, paint thinners and strippers, pesticides, pwer cleaners, tilet bwl cleaner, water-based paint, and wd preservatives. Dispse f the fllwing prducts at a recycling center r a cllectin site: kersene, mtr r fuel il, car battery r battery acid, diesel fuel, transmissin fluid, large amunts f paint, paint thinner r stripper, pwer steering fluid, turpentine, gun cleaning slvents, and tires. Empty spray cans by pressing the buttn until nthing cmes ut, then place the can in the trash. D nt place spray cans int a burning barrel, incineratr, r trash cmpactr because they may explde. Never smke while using husehld chemicals. Avid using hair spray, cleaning slutins, paint prducts, r pesticides near the pen flame f an appliance, pilt light, lighted candle, fireplace, wd burning stve, etc. Althugh yu may nt be able t see r smell them, vapr particles in the air culd catch fire r explde. If yu shuld spill a chemical, clean it up immediately with rags, being careful t prtect yur eyes and skin. Allw the fumes in the rags t evaprate utdrs in a safe place, then dispse f them by wrapping them in a newspaper and placing them in a sealed plastic bag. Dispse f these materials with yur trash. Buy nly as much f a chemical as yu think yu will use. If yu have prduct left ver, try t give it t smene wh will use it. String hazardus chemicals increases risk t chemical emergencies. Keep an A-B-C-rated fire extinguisher in the hme and car, and get training frm yur lcal fire department n hw t use them. Shuld chemicals ignite, yu will have an pprtunity t extinguish the fire befre it spreads, aviding greater damage. Pst the number f the nearest pisn cntrl center by all telephnes. In an emergency situatin yu may nt have time t lk up critical phne numbers. Learn t detect the presence f a hazardus material. Many hazardus materials d nt have a taste r an dr. Sme materials can be detected because they cause physical reactins such as watering eyes r nausea. Sme hazardus materials exist beneath the surface f the grund and can be recgnized by an il r fam-like appearance. Recgnizing them immediately will allw yu t take steps t avid direct cntact and limit yur expsure t ptentially hazardus chemicals. Learn t recgnize the symptms f txic pisning: Difficulty in breathing. Irritatin f the eyes, skin, thrat, r respiratry tract. Changes in skin clr. Headache r blurred visin. Dizziness. Clumsiness r lack f crdinatin. Cramps r diarrhea.

4 What t D During a Hme Chemical Emergency If yur child shuld eat r drink a nn-fd substance, find any cntainers immediately and take them t the phne. The pisn cntrl center may need specific infrmatin frm the cntainer t give yu the best emergency advice. Call the pisn cntrl center, emergency medical services (EMS), 9-1-1, r the peratr. They will give yu emergency advice while yu wait fr prfessinal help. Fllw the emergency peratr r dispatcher's instructins carefully. Often the first aid advice fund n cntainers may nt be apprpriate. D nt give anything by muth until medical prfessinals have advised yu. If a hazardus substance cmes int cntact with an eye, it is imprtant t take immediate actin. Delaying first aid can greatly increase the likelihd f injury. Flush the eye with clear, lukewarm water fr a minimum f 15 minutes, unless authrities instruct yu nt t use water n the particular chemical invlved. Cntinue the cleansing prcess even if the victim indicates he r she is n lnger feeling any pain, then seek medical attentin. If there is danger f a fire r explsin, get ut f the huse immediately. D nt waste time cllecting items r calling the fire department when yu are in danger. If there is a fire r explsin, call the fire department frm utside (a cellular phne r a neighbr's phne). Once yu are safely away frm danger, call fr prfessinal help. Stay away frm the huse t avid the pssibility f breathing txic fumes. Wash hands, arms, r ther parts f the bdy that may have been expsed t the chemical. Chemicals may cntinue t irritate the skin until they are washed ff. Discard any clthing that may have been cntaminated. Sme chemicals may nt wash ut cmpletely. Discarding clthes will prevent ptential future expsure. Administer first aid treatment t victims f chemical burns. Call fr emergency help. Remve clthing and jewelry frm arund the injury. Pur clean, cl water ver the burn fr 15 t 30 minutes. Lsely cver the burn with a sterile r clean dressing. Be sure that the dressing will nt stick t the burn. Refer victim t a medical prfessinal fr further treatment. Plan fr Majr Chemical Emergencies Learn abut yur cmmunity's risk frm majr chemical emergencies. Cntact yur emergency management agency r American Red Crss chapter fr infrmatin n chemical plants and hazardus material transprtatin rutes in yur area. Find ut evacuatin plans fr yur wrkplace and yur children's schls. Different lcatins have different plans. Knw where yu r yur children may be taken in the event f a majr chemical emergency.

5 Develp an evacuatin plan. Everyne in yur family shuld knw where t g if they have t leave. Trying t make plans at the last minute can be upsetting and create cnfusin. Learn abut industry and cmmunity warning signals. Different cmmunities may have different ways f prviding warnings. Many cmmunities have sirens intended fr utdr warning purpses. Use a NOAA weather radi with a tne-alert feature t keep yu aware f warnings while yu are indrs. Discuss chemical emergencies with yur family. Everyne shuld knw what t d in case all family members are nt tgether. Discussing majr chemical emergencies ahead f time helps reduce fear and anxiety and lets everyne knw hw t respnd. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit Please see the "Disaster Supplies Kit" sectin fr general supplies kit infrmatin. Specific supplies fr a chemical emergency shuld include the fllwing: Disaster Supply Kit basics. Evacuatin Supply Kit. What t D During a Majr Chemical Emergency If yu hear a siren r ther warning signal, turn n a radi r televisin fr further emergency infrmatin. Yu will be ntified f a majr chemical emergency by the authrities. T get yur attentin, a siren culd sund, yu may be called by telephne, r emergency persnnel may drive by and give instructins ver a ludspeaker. Officials might even cme t yur dr. Listen carefully t the radi r televisin. The Emergency Alert System (EAS), which has replaced the Emergency Bradcast System, may be activated. Yu will be given specific instructins fr yur particular situatin. Strictly fllw instructins. Yur life culd depend n it. Yu will be tld the fllwing: The type f health hazard. The area affected. Hw t prtect yurself. Evacuatin rutes (if necessary). Shelter lcatins. Type and lcatin f medical facilities. The phne numbers t call if yu need extra help. Call EMS, 9-1-1, r the peratr nly fr a pssible life-threatening emergency. Telephne lines are frequently verwhelmed in disaster situatins. They need t be clear fr emergency calls t get thrugh.

6 What t D if Yu Are at the Scene f a Chemical Accident Call r the lcal fire department t reprt the nature and lcatin f the accident as sn as pssible. Alerting lcal authrities t a majr chemical emergency immediately may help reduce ptential injury r damage. Mve away frm the accident scene and help thers away. Minimizing the time yu are expsed reduces yur risk f injury frm breathing txic chemicals. Sme chemicals may ignite r explde. Stay away frm the spilled substance and avid tuching it. If yu are nt sure f a substance r its effects, wait fr authrities n the scene t advise yu f prper medical care r attentin t minimize injury. Try t avid inhaling gases, fumes, r smke. If pssible, cver yur muth with a clth while leaving the area. Many chemicals can damage breathing passages. Stay away frm accident victims until the hazardus material has been identified. Once a substance has been identified and authrities indicate it is safe t g near victims, yu can mve victims t fresh air and call fr emergency medical care. Remve cntaminated clthing and shes and place them in a plastic bag. Cleanse victims wh have cme in cntact with chemicals by immediately puring cld water ver the skin r eyes with running water fr at least 15 minutes, unless authrities instruct yu nt t use water n the particular chemical invlved. Minimizing yur expsure will decrease ptential injury. Try t stay upstream, uphill, and upwind f the accident. Chemicals may be carried by water, gravity, r wind. Minimize yur expsure. Hw t Shelter-in-Place One f the basic instructins yu may be given in a chemical emergency is t shelter-in-place. This is a precautin aimed t keep yu and yur family safe while remaining in yur hme. If yu are tld t shelter-in-place, g inside, clse all windws and vents and turn ff all fans, heating r cling systems. Take family members and pets t a safe rm, seal windws and drs, and listen t lcal radi (r televisin) statins, r a NOAA Weather Radi fr instructins. While gathering yur family, yu can prvide a minimal amunt f breathing prtectin by cvering yur muth and nse with a damp clth. Many chemicals can cause damage t breathing passages. Immediately after the shelter-in-place annuncement is issued, fill up bathtubs r large cntainers fr an additinal water supply, and turn ff the intake valve t the huse. Water supplies may becme cntaminated. Preserve the water yu have available. If gas r vaprs culd have entered the building, take shallw breaths thrugh a clth r a twel. Many chemicals can cause damage t breathing passages. Avid eating r drinking any fd r water that may be cntaminated. Injury may ccur frm eating r drinking txic chemicals. Seal huse s cntaminants cannt enter: Clse and lck all windws and drs in yur hme. Turn ff all fans, heating and air cnditining systems.

7 Clse the fireplace damper. Seal gaps and cracks under drways and windws with wet twels and duct tape. Seal gaps arund windw and air cnditining units, bathrm and kitchen exhaust fans, and stve and dryer vents with duct tape and plastic sheeting, wax paper, r aluminum wrap. Clse ff nnessential rms such as strage areas, laundry rms, and extra bedrms. Turn ff ventilatin systems. G t an abve-grund rm (nt the basement) with the fewest windws and drs. Sme chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep int basements, even if the windws are clsed. Take yur Disaster Supplies Kit with yu. These items may make yu mre cmfrtable while yu are waiting fr further instructins. Stay in the rm and listen t yur radi r televisin until yu are tld all is safe, r yu are tld t evacuate. Lcal fficials may call fr evacuatin in specific areas at greatest risk in yur cmmunity. Fllwing the advice f lcal authrities is yur safest chice. If yu are tld there is danger f explsin, clse the windw shades, blinds, r curtains. T avid injury, stay away frm the windws. If windws break due t the explsin, the shades will help prevent glass frm shattering int yur hme. Evacuatin During a Chemical Emergency If yu are tld t evacuate immediately, take yur Disaster Supplies Kit. Pack nly the bare essentials, such as medicatins, and leave yur hme quickly. Fllw the rute authrities recmmend. Dn't take shrtcuts n the way t the shelter, they may be blcked r expse yu t dangerus chemicals. It is imprtant t stay calm, listen carefully, and fllw all instructins. Authrities will decide if evacuatin is necessary, based primarily n the type and amunt f chemical released and hw lng it is expected t affect an area. Other cnsideratins are the length f time it shuld take t evacuate the area, weather cnditins, and the time f day. Authrities will advise yu f the safest steps t take fr yur particular situatin. If an evacuatin rder is issued, listen t yur radi t make sure the evacuatin rder applies t yu, and t understand if yu are t evacuate immediately r if yu have time t pack sme essentials. Stay tuned t a radi r televisin fr infrmatin n evacuatin rutes, temprary shelters, and prcedures. Fllwing the advice f lcal authrities is yur safest chice. Avid using the telephne. Use yur phne nly in life-threatening emergencies, and then call the pisn cntrl center, EMS, 9-1-1, r the peratr immediately. Telephne lines are frequently verwhelmed in disaster situatins. They need t be clear fr emergency calls t get thrugh.

8 If yu are tld t evacuate, d s immediately. Lcal fficials may call fr evacuatin in specific areas at greatest risk in yur cmmunity. Fllwing the advice f lcal authrities is yur safest prtectin. Take yur Disaster Supplies Kit. These items may make yu mre cmfrtable while yu are away frm hme. Only if yu have time, seal yur huse s cntaminants cannt enter: Shut ff all vents. Clse fireplace dampers. Yu dn't need t turn ff yur refrigeratr r freezer, but yu shuld turn ff all ther appliances and lights as yu leave. Clse and lck yur windws and drs. Mve quickly and calmly. Leaving the area as quickly as pssible will reduce yur chance f expsure t hazardus materials. Staying calm and ratinal will help yu mve safely and avid delays r accidents caused by irratinal behavir. D nt assume that a shelter will have everything yu need. While shelters prvide a safe place t stay and fd, specialty items fr infants and individuals n restricted diets may nt be available. In mst majr chemical emergencies, shelters will prvide nly emergency items such as meals, cts, and blankets. If yu need a ride, ask a neighbr. If n neighbr is available t help yu, listen t lcal radi r televisin statins fr further instructins. Check n neighbrs t make sure they have been ntified, and ffer help t thse with disabilities r ther special needs. Elderly peple and peple with disabilities may require additinal assistance, and peple wh care fr them r wh have large families may need assistance in emergency situatins. Take nly ne vehicle t the evacuatin site. Traffic may be very heavy and parking at a shelter may be limited. Reduce further cngestin and keep yur family tgether by eliminating additinal vehicles. Clse yur car windws and air vents, and turn ff the heater r air cnditiner. Many chemicals can cause damage t breathing passages. Fr yur safety, fllw the exact rute yu are tld t take. Shrtcuts may put yu in the path f danger. What t D After a Majr Chemical Emergency Return hme nly when authrities say it is safe. Lcal fficials n the scene are the best surce f infrmatin fr yur particular situatin. Fllw lcal instructins cncerning the safety f fd and water. Cntaminated fd r water can cause illness.

9 Clean up and dispse f residue carefully. Fllw instructins frm emergency fficials cncerning cleanup methds. Lcal fficials will best knw prper prcedures fr yur particular situatin.