BULK SALES OF HOME DEFENCE EQUIPMENT
DEFENDING YOUR HOME AND LIFE INFORMATION PAGE
Lucy Ward, political correspondent
Monday December 9, 2002
The Guardian
British householders are to be given government advice on coping with a biological, nuclear or chemical attack under a wholesale updating of cold war-era emergency planning in the face of the threat of global terrorism.
Legislation to be put before parliament early in the new year will compel local authorities to revise outdated emergency procedures to reflect new risks in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
The shake-up, which will replace current advice based on civil defence legislation dating back to 1948 and 1986, is expected to involve the delivery of leaflets to Britain's 24 million homes within 18 months with the message to "go in, stay in, tune in", in the event of an attack.
Ministers hope the evidence of apparent government readiness in the face of increased threats will reassure the public, though making such information available also risks stirring panic.
Householders will be advised to have a reserve supply of food and water and be shown how to access evacuation plans if there is a danger of radiation or gas poisoning.
The advice will bring back memories of the Protect and Survive leaflets produced by the Conservative government in the 1980s, which showed how a family could shield itself from a nuclear attack under the kitchen table.
The new plans demonstrate government certainty that Britain is a potential target for supporters of Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida network.
The local government minister, Nick Raynsford, told the Sunday Times: "We want people to know we are ready for any eventuality, without alarming the public."
Preparations for the legislation have been led by the civil contingencies secretariat in the Cabinet Office, set up by Tony Blair shortly before September 11 to help deal with unexpected emergencies. It is ex pected to be introduced to parliament within two or three months.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "The government does take this very seriously and is looking for a structure for the 21st century.
"We are consulting with the local authorities who have to plan on the ground for major emergencies.
"It will be a fairly substantial piece of legislation, coming out next year and going through parliament as soon as time permits. Events on September 11 and afterwards have shown the need to plan for these sorts of catastrophic incidents."
Under the new plans, emergency powers will be enacted to create "community assistance zones" to help move people faster in the event of an emergency. Local authorities will have to draw up plans for mass evacuation.
Mr Raynsford said that UK Resilience, a body set up after September 11 to help draw up contingency plans for the country, was creating a network of "gatekeepers" - trusted members of the community who would inform local people on the nature of an attack and help in any evacuation.
The new seriousness with which civil defence is being treated comes after a post-cold war period in which the government has let slide the issue of protecting the population from catastrophic attack.
The type of weapon most likely to be used in a terrorist attack is lethal gas, such as a nerve gas. The nerve gas sarin can be produced, purchased, transported, and deployed, cheaply and easily. Sarin is a weapon of mass destruction and a pin-prick size dose is fatal. It is usually used in a confined space and has been used before in a terrorist attacks on underground train stations. Sarin gas rapidly disables the nervous system, causing paralysis of the body including the lungs, resulting in suffocation.
WARNING SIGNS
In a poisoned gas attack people around you will suddenly appear extremely distressed.
Victims initially suffer serious breathing difficulties. Common symptoms include
severe headache, coughing, weeping eyes, sweating, blurred vision, nausea and
vomiting. Initial symptoms are quickly followed by paralysis and immobility,
suffocation, unconsciousness and death if exposure is not discontinued.
PROTECTION
In the event of a suspected poisoned gas attack, you must escape into open air
immediately. If immediate escape is impossible, for instance in an subway or
underground train station, you may not survive long enough to escape unless
you have a gas mask. If no gas mask is available, breathe gently through an
ordinary DIY dust mask or layers of fabric or clothing, although this more dangerous
than using a proper filter. Sarin is heavier than air, so distance yourself
from the affected area, and get above it by climbing stairs if possible. If
you have already inhaled gas, escape urgently before paralysis begins.
RESUSCITATION
Away from the gas, victims who are paralysed and unable to breathe can easily
be kept alive until the effects wear off by artificial ventilation. For mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation pierce a hole in a plastic bag and beware of residual toxin. Victims
who have lost consciousness can be also kept alive by inflating and deflating
their lungs with air, and revived using standard resuscitation procedures.
ACTION
If you travel on underground trains we strongly recommend that you purchase
a gas mask or respirator immediately and keep it readily accessible on every
journey. A standard respirator fitted with vapour filters is available from
your local DIY shop or home improvement store, and this will protect you from
inhaling sarin long enough to escape. Breathing through a filter can help safeguard
against many other forms of poison gas, and also offers effective protection
against inhaling ordinary smoke, or radioactive fallout dust from a "dirty
nuke".
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS (BIO-TERRORISM OR GERM WARFARE)
Biological weapons
are the most devastating weapons of mass destruction, but they are easily available,
cheap, easy to mass produce, easy to conceal, and easy to deploy. A single bioterrorist
attack could cause ten times as many deaths as a nuclear bomb. Because some
bioweapons are contagious and resistant to antibiotics, they can spread swiftly
through an unprotected population, potentially causing epidemics and plagues.
There may be no knowledge of a bioterror attack until the first symptoms, often
flu-like, present several days after exposure.
Deadly bacteria or viruses would typically be delivered using aerosols (sprays),
by contact with an infected suicide terrorist, or on a vast scale by release
from an aircraft or explosive device. Weaponised smallpox, ebola, or anthrax,
are the most likely germs to be used by terrorists.
To prevent infection with contagious bioweapons after an outbreak, avoid contact
with people. Ideally wear rubber gloves, boots, waterproof clothing and hood.
Protect against inhalation using a PFR or HEPA filter, or fabric such as a DIY
mask or clothing to cover your mouth and nose. Cover your eyes with a safety
visor or goggles. Maintain strict washing and personal hygiene. Vitamins and
minerals, such as vitamin C and zinc, can improve natural resistance and recovery,
and you are advised to start keeping fit and eating fruit now. Bioterror victims
should be kept hydrated using water and electrolyte, and oral rehydration therapy
is available from pharmacies. You are advised to keep a supply of drinking water
and vitamin pills.
To protect yourself, be aware of the symptoms, and be prepared to avoid human
contact in the event of an outbreak.
SMALLPOX
Initial clinical signs are like influenza. Characterised by pustules appearing
2-3 days after exposure - first on the face, hands and feet, then all over the
body. A robust pathogen, smallpox is difficult to kill, and remains viable for
long periods outside the body. Infection is fatal for 1 in every 3 cases. The
virus is not found in the wild and there is no natural immunity in the population.
Vaccination is an effective prophylaxis. No known treatment or cure.
ANTHRAX
Characterised by severe breathing difficulties, which may be mistaken for pneumonia.
Spread by spores which are extremely robust and can withstand extreme temperatures
and pressures, remaining infectious for many years. Anthrax infection is often
fatal, especially in the lungs, but not easily spread from person to person
except by physical contact. Anthrax bacteria can be treated using antibiotics
if caught early.
EBOLA
Characterised by confusion, exhaustion, bleeding from the nose, flushed, bruised
or yellow skin. Ebola is highly infectious. Most victims die within days of
the onset of symptoms. There is no vaccine or cure.
RADIOACTIVE BOMB ("DIRTY NUKE")
Any explosion, even a small one, could be a "dirty nuke" bomb. These radiological bombs use an explosive charge to fill the air with fine particles of radioactive fallout. Following any terrorist bomb, assume that the air is contaminated. Cover your nose and mouth, and avoid breathing unfiltered air. Thoroughly ash off radioactive debris from clothing, hair and body as soon as possible. Provided no particles are ingested or inhaled, there is a low risk of adverse effects.
EQUIPMENT
Equip yourself now, do not wait for an attack (find equipment online e.g. www.wear2work.co.uk).
SURGICAL MASK (PFR)
Protection against inhalation of virus and bacteria. E.g. PFR product code UN46727
from Universal Hospital Supplies (in London Tel 020 8920 6206). Seal onto face
with surgical tape (available from pharmacies).
BREATHING MASK
WITH VAPOUR FILTERS
Available from many DIY shops such as (in London see 101 Tottenham Court Road).
Old or used military gas mask may be ineffective or dangerous. Practice taking
getting out your mask and putting it on with your breath closed and your eyes
closed. Test your mask, otherwise if you are unable to breath with the mask
on you may think the mask is defective and remove it unnecessarily. Mask yourself
first. You cannot help others if you are a victim. PROCEDURE: When mask is on,
exhale fully. Breathe normally.
PREPARATION
Assess the risks of the places you visit and your journey to work. Ask yourself how you would escape from your building or train station. Where are the exits? Where would you strike for maximum disruption if you were a terrorist? Practise taking out your gas mask and putting it on, without breathing in. Decide how you would deal with other victims. Think of ways to alert other people without putting yourself at risk by shouting "poison gas" and "get out" and "don't breathe in". Remember, the people around you may be confused and ignorant about what is happening, and they are likely to die without your help. If you do not have proper equipment then it may not be safe for you to expose yourself, even to help others.
VIGILANCE
Terrorist attacks are most likely to occur in the busiest areas of cities, especially major tube stations, large shopping centres, and commercial locations, as well as major business districts and industrial areas. If you see anything suspicious call the emergency services (e.g. 999 in UK or 911 in USA). In case of suspicious symptoms inform your doctor immediately.
FURTHER READING
Terrorism - Preparing
for the Unexpected (International Red Cross February 2003).
America Responds to Terrorism - US Government (February 2003).
Protect Yourself - Department of Homeland Security (February 2003).
Advice for Citizens - Department of Homeland Security (February 2003).
Deliberate Release of Biological and Chemical Agents - Guidance to help plan
the health service response - Department of Health, UK (March 2000).
Smallpox – Briefing note for the public.
LEAFLETS - PLEASE PRINT/COPY & DISTRIBUTE
CITY SURVIVAL GUIDE (LONDON SURVIVAL GUIDE) [ MS Word ] [ Acrobat ]
Terrorists and terrorism. Protection, survival: bomb, sarin, vx gas, smallpox, anthrax. Nuclear, weapons of mass destruction, atomic, dirty nuke bomb, radiation. News. Protection. Antidote. Nerve gas, poison gas. Bioterror, bioterrorism/bio-terrorism, bioterrorist/bio-terrorist, germ, biological, bio weapon, vaccination, mass vaccination, vaccinate. Weapons, warning, alert, attack, london, britain, uk, america, usa. Iraq. Israel. War. Smallpox vacination. Smallpox attack. Ricin attack. Terrorist attacks. USA. London. Britain. America. Iraq. Israel. Australia. France. Instructions for making weapons, nerve gas, poison gas, ricin, sarin, ingredients, instructions, manuracture, etc. Information: smallpox, anthrax, sarin, ricin, vx, nerve gas, poison gas, terrorist weapons. Terrorism/terrorists. Protection, survival: bombing, sarin, vx gas, smallpox, anthrax. Nuclear, weapons of mass destruction. Atomic, dirty-nuke radioactive bomb, radiation. News. Protection. Antidote. Nerve gas, poison gas. Bioterror, bioterrorism/bio-terrorism, bioterrorist/bio-terrorist, germ, biological, bio weapon, vaccination, mass vaccination, vaccinate. Weapons, warning, alert, attack, london, britain, uk, america, usa. Iraq. Israel. War. Smallpox vacination. Smallpox attack. Ricin attack. Terrorist attacks. USA. London. Britain. United Kingdom. UK. America. Iraq. Israel. Australia. France. Europe. Africa. Instructions to make weapons, bombs, nerve gas, poison gas.
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