American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [26]
Terrorism
For the average American, the risk of experiencing a terrorist attack firsthand is low. However, despite the low risk, you still may feel worried and frightened during a national security alert. One positive way to cope with your anxiety and fear is to talk about your feelings with family and friends. You will find that most people share your concerns and many will appreciate the opportunity to talk about them. If you continue to feel anxious or depressed or if you are unable to focus on your usual activities, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. You can also take constructive steps to prepare for a possible terrorist attack (see below), which can help you feel more in control.
The federal government has identified a number of possible terrorist threats and has developed a national emergency response system to coordinate local and state emergency programs throughout the country in the event of terrorist attacks. Types of attacks that could occur involve biological agents (such as bacteria and viruses), chemicals, or radioactive materials.
How to Prepare for a Terrorist Attack
If a terrorist attack occurs, your local emergency response system will activate and local public health authorities will tell you what to do. Listen to news broadcasts to monitor the situation. Follow instructions from your local police and fire departments and from emergency workers on the scene. Although there is no way to predict exactly what might happen during a terrorist attack, there are a number of things you can do to prepare for an attack:
• Assemble emergency supplies. Have enough bottled water (1 gallon of water per person per day) and nonperishable foods (such as canned goods, nuts, dried fruit, and boxes of dry cereal) for at least 3 days. Include a first-aid kit, extra eyeglasses and medication, vitamin and mineral supplements, tools, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, a manual can opener, toilet paper, paper towels, moist towelettes, bleach, soap, and bedding and a change of clothing for each person. If you can, store extra water in containers for washing. If there is a baby in the house, include ready-to-feed formula, baby food, and disposable diapers. Make a list of emergency phone numbers such as the local fire department and police department, a local hospital, and your doctor.
• Develop an emergency plan. Plan what your family would do in different emergency situations (for example, if you have to seek shelter at home, if you have to evacuate your house or apartment, or if an attack occurs when you are in a car). Designate a meeting place. Decide how family members will get in touch with one another if you are not together at the time of an attack or if you become separated. It might be helpful for each family member to have a cell phone. Name an out-of-town person for all family members to contact if local phone service is affected.
• Educate yourself beforehand. Learn the warning signals used by your community in an emergency. Find out the location of fallout shelters. Take classes in first aid and CPR.
There are also some things you should not do when preparing for a terrorist attack. Do not hoard antibiotics—they lose their effectiveness if overused and they don’t work against viruses. And don’t stock up on gas masks. They are not effective against all gases, they don’t protect you from chemicals absorbed through the skin, and (because many gases are odorless and colorless) you probably will not know when to use one. For more information, go to the US Department of Homeland Security Web site (www.ready.gov)