Chemical agents are poisonous gases, liquids, or solids that have toxic effects on people, animals or plants. Most chemical agents cause serious injuries or death. An example of a chemical agent is sarin gas.
Severity of injuries depends on the type and amount of the chemical agent used, and the duration of exposure.
Were a chemical agent attack to occur, authorities would instruct citizens to either seek shelter where they are and seal the premises or evacuate immediately. Exposure to chemical agents can be fatal. Leaving the shelter to rescue or assist victims can be a deadly decision. There is no assistance that the untrained can offer that would likely be of any value to the victims of chemical agents.
Source:
Fact sheet: terrorism. Federal Emergency Management Agency website. Available at: http://www.fema.gov/hazards/terrorism/terrorf.shtm . Accessed October 11, 2004.
Last updated October 2004 by Krisha McCoy, MS
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