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Which item is NOT crucial to being
prepared to deal with natural or manmade disasters?
The answer is B.
Stockpiling antibiotics is not recommended because it is impossible to predict
the exact nature of a disaster and there is not one antibiotic that effectively
treats all related sicknesses. In addition, inappropriate use of antibiotics can
potentially lead to dangerous side effects and also exacerbate the problem of
antibiotic resistant strains of many organisms.
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Which
item should NOT be included in a family emergency communications plan?
The answer is C.
A family communication plan should be flexible enough to accommodate the unforeseen
conditions resulting from a disaster. Each family member should have a readily
available list of important numbers to use in an emergency.
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Every individual should have or be included in an emergency communications plan.
So hopefully your answer was A. Yes.
It is important that your emergency communications plan include a safe, secure,
well known and accessible primary meeting place plus a backup
location that is NOT your home, workplace or the school your children
attend, since these locations may be disaster sites. A reliable
point-of-contact outside your local area that knows and is well
known to all family members can be a major asset in helping to
reunite family members if local communication capability is not
available. Each family member should have access to a
list of important phone numbers that also contains a brief reminder on what they
should do in case of an emergency and a list of the pre-established meeting
places including addresses and phone numbers, if available. For more information
and an easy-to-use family communications plan template, visit
www.ready.gov.
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If a situation associated with a disease could become an epidemic,
then it is always contagious.
The answer is False.
Anthrax, Botulism and Salmonella are all examples of biological agents that could
create a non-contagious epidemic (i.e. not transmitted from infected person to
healthy person).
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If you are in the vicinity of an explosion, dust clouds or heavy
concentration of particles in the air, it is
a good idea to cover your nose and mouth with a cotton t-shirt or dust mask as
soon as possible.
The answer is True.
In an explosion of an unknown cause, dust clouds or concentration of
particles in the air, a dust
mask or t-shirt would help to avoid exposing your lungs to unhealthy particles
such as asbestos, radioactive dust, etc.. Exposure to such particles may not
always be lethal, but they may be cancerous; therefore, it is best to limit
exposure to your respiratory system.
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A "dirty bomb" is especially dangerous, because in addition to killing
people within the immediate vicinity of the explosion, it makes the buildings in
the area radioactive so that they will be uninhabitable for years to come.
The answer is False.
A "dirty bomb" can needlessly increase fear and panic if too much is assumed based
on its name. People may be killed by the initial blast as they would with any bomb.
A “dirty bomb,” is designed to disperse radioactive dust, thereby resulting
in monitors on the scene showing an increased level of radiation. This dust may
contaminate the surrounding area and cause radiological sickness in some of the
people, but the area may be only contaminated for a short period of time. Depending
on the amount of radiological material released, people exposed to the blast and/or
radioactive material may be subject to an increased risk of cancer over the course
of their lifetime, but it is highly unlikely that all of the exposed individuals will
die or even get cancer.
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What is the FIRST thing
you should do if you are outside and see people suddenly getting violently
ill, choking or passing out?
The answer is C.
Immediately
tie any available cotton fabric such as a t-shirt tightly over the nose and mouth
to help filter
out particles from entering the lungs. Since cotton fabric or dust
masks offer little protection from chemicals or biological agents
and they are usually fast-acting, you should leave the area
as quickly as possible avoiding low lying places until you know what is causing the problem. On the chance you
may have been exposed to a chemical or biological agent, you should decontaminate by
thoroughly showering with
plenty of clean water and soap as soon as possible. After you decontaminate, you might consider sheltering
on an upper floor inside a building to prevent further exposure. Be sure to close and seal the doors and windows as well as shutting
off any type of ventilation systems, especially if the wind is
blowing toward you.
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What method should only be used as a
LAST RESORT to alert rescuers of your presence in the event you become trapped
under debris?
The answer is C.
If you are trapped under debris, shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to
inhale dangerous amounts of dust. A dense-weave cotton material can act as a good filter,
so if available try to breathe through it. You should cover your nose and mouth with
anything you have on hand. Avoid unnecessary movement to minimize kicking up dust. To
signal your location to rescuers, tap on a pipe or wall or, if available, use a whistle and
flashlight
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Which item is
NOT a way to find or create water that is safe for drinking?
The answer is C.
Radiators are NEVER a safe source of drinking water. Boiling water at a rolling boil for
a minimum of one (1) minute kills harmful bacteria and parasites and
is the best method for treating water. You can also use regular household liquid
bleach that contains no soap or scent to kill harmful bacteria, but it will not kill parasitic organisms.
For each gallon of water, add sixteen drops (1/8
teaspoon) of bleach, stir and let stand for 30 minutes. If the
water does not have a slight taste or smell of chlorine, add another dose and let stand for
another 15 minutes.
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Which statement
is NOT true about shelters during an emergency?
The answer is B.
With the exception of service animals (such as guide dogs), pets are not typically
permitted in emergency shelters for health reasons. If you have pets, 1) identify
which local hotels and motels allow pets and where pet boarding facilities are
located (include some outside your local area); 2) have records to prove your pets
vaccinations are current (required by most boarding facilities); 3) ensure proper
identification tags are securely fastened to their collar; 4) keep a current photo
of your pets in your family emergency supply kit; 5) make sure you have a secure
pet carrier or leash to restrain them and keep them secure; and 6) assemble a pet
disaster kit containing all the things needed for them to survive with you for
three days including food, water and medicines.
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Based on the typical characteristics associated with a TORANADO or sustained Hurricane
Level Winds:
the answer is B. Low.
You should shelter in a sturdy and well protected area away from
exterior windows and doors below ground level (basement), if possible,
or in a bathtub or under a strong door frame on the ground floor.
If there is sufficient time to prepare, you should bring all small objects
indoors and secure (tie down) and items that cannot be easily moved indoors
to reduce the chance of them becoming deadly flying projectiles.
As a minimum, you should have medications, water, a portable radio and extra batteries with you
so that you can monitor weather and emergency broadcasts.
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Based on the typical characteristics associated with FLOODING:
the answer is A. High.
For flooding associated with natural disasters, you should seek shelter
on the highest available ground around or the highest floor possible
(potentially the attic),
if no other option exists. If an exit from the attic onto the
roof does not exist, be sure to bring something that can be used to
create an access hole through the roof. .
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Based on the typical characteristics associated with a RADIOLOGICAL incident:
the answer is B. Low.
For a radiological or nuclear incident, you can reduce the exposure through shielding
(such a thick wall) and increasing the distance from the contaminant. Sheltering below
ground can offer an increased level of protection. However, the best shelter is one
that is convenient to get to quickly, can be easily sealed off and is large enough to
provide air to breathe for several hours.
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Based on the typical characteristics associated with a CHEMICAL or BIOLOGICAL
incident:
the answer is A. High.
In a biological incident, the biological substance will usually settle on the ground; in a chemical
attack, the contaminants would typically be distributed in aerosol
form that is heavier than air so it will settle to the ground;
and for chemical spills, you need to avoid direct contact and
quickly get as
far away from the incident as possible without risking potential
exposure to fumes (keep incident down wind), since depending on the
specific chemical, the fumes could either settle to the ground or
rise into the air. Thus, although in
most cases it would be best to shelter on the highest indoor level
that is secure, can be easily sealed off from outside air and
provides sufficient air to breath for several hours,
the best shelter is one that is convenient to get to quickly, can be easily sealed
off and is large enough to provide air to breathe for several hours.
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Which of the following is an accurate description of a "dirty bomb"?
The answer is D.
The term "dirty bomb" is used to denote an explosive device that is designed to spread
radioactive materials over a targeted area.
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Which of the following is NOT true of a biological attack?
The answer is D.
As discussed in question 3, there are several biological agents (such as Anthrax) that
are not contagious.
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Every family or individual should have an emergency kit.
So hopefully your answer was A. Yes.
It is important to have an emergency kit which includes all of the following in one
place and staged so that the contents can be easily moved to another
location if required: supply of food and water, manual can opener,
matches, a first aid kit, battery powered radio, a flashlight, extra
batteries, blankets and/or protective clothing, prescription
medications and other items that are essential to everyones health
and well being (including pets - see answer to question 9). For more information
and easy-to-use guidelines or template for creating and maintaining
an emergency kit, visit
www.ready.gov.
