DEP Press Advisory on Deer Hunting Cancellation, October 2, 2001

Z z o co o S "D 1^ o o o Red Cross suggests guidelines io stay safe and informed c CT o' ■a o O1 to prepare for an emergency, according to your a ntacts if you have time. Lock your make them feel more comfortable. For 3. ro By SUSAN FERRARO 03 JS- CD □Ally NEWS STAFF WRnER the Red Cross and others: doors. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long example, they can outfit their families o In the unlikely event of a biological or ■ Choose an out-of-town contact, whom pants and sturdy shoes. with ID bracelets. o o chemical attack, there are practical, com­ everyone knows to call and who can re­ ■ If toll to “shelter in place,” stay inside. But other moves — for example, buy- c mon-sense steps people can take to pro­ lay news of people’s whereabouts. Close and lock windows and outside ing a gas mask and chemical protection 3 CD tect themselves and their families. “If you are working midtown, and your doors.: 5hut off fans, heating and air con- suit — may be of limited value. “Evetybody should be prepared for any daughter is staying with a friend in ditioneis. And stockpiling and taking antibiotics type of disaster anytime,” said Dairen Irby, Brooklyn ... you ran have a way to make ■ Go to a room above ground without such as Cipro just in case can be waste- . spokesman for the American Red Cross. sure everyone is fine,” Irby said. windows: Some chemicals are heavier ful and foster antibiotic resistance, ren-, “The attacks of Sept 11 proved that” ■ Establish a meeting spot, or a place than air and seep into basements. Seal dering the drugs useless when they are ' The first sign of a biological attack where you can stay overnight. Plan for off cracks around doors and vents with needed. would probably be an unusual outbreak family pets, because shelters and hotels duct ta] »e. Preparation can save lives and inspire of infectious disease, said Stephen Morse, won’t take them. ■ Don’ let young children watch repeat- confidence. a civil-preparedness expert at Columbia’s ■ Put together an easily carried disaster kit. edTV apes of a disaster; they think it’s “People shouldn’t panic, but should be Mailman School of Public Health. ■ Find out what your child’s school happen ng over and over again. Radio re- educated about it, so that they don’t have , “Be watchful” and report odd or severe emergency plan is. Make sure schools ports II ight be better. to be so fearful,” said Paul Richard, a , symptoms, or water that tastes strange, have your most recent contact numbers. ■ Liste 1 to the Emergency Broadcasting publisher who has written a terrorist stir, ; he said. ■ If told to evacuate your home, follow System ", ■ I which will be on most channels, vival guide and posted it on the Web at Here’s a guide New Yorkers can follow directions. Grab your disaster kit. Phone People can take other steps that might www.newerasurvival.org.

IHE AGENTS: RECOGNITION & IISPONSI^’^^ Some of the most dangerous and worrisome chemical and biological we ipons: AnthnK____________________ : Botulinum toxin : Smallpmc_____________ ______ Symptoms: May at first resemble common cold; ; Symptoms: First, blurred vision, then muscle : Symptoms: Fever, fatigue, severe headache and back- then breathing becomes difficult. Kills by putting ■ weakness, paralysis, respiratory failure, death. • aches: sometimes stomach pain and delirium. Then a body into shock, shutting respiratory system. : rash appears, blossoming into deep disfiguring blisters. § Transmission: Contact with infected animals or : Transmission: Usually in food, through porous • Often fatal. co ; mucous membranes in mouth o digestive «« sys- by aerosol; most deadly when inhaled. • tern. Botulism is the most poisonous sub- : Transmission: Aerosol attack, then person to person or Not contagious. : stance known. Not contagious. ; through contaminated bedclothes. Very contagious. Incubation/time factor: Symptoms can occur two ; days to six weeks after exposure. : Incubatlon/time factor: Two hou s to eight * Incubation/time factor: 12 to 14 days. •

f What stops it: Antibiotics, usually Cipro, if given early. Vaccines (mostly for military) involve a series of six shots over many months. Other antibiotics may help. • days: usually 12 to 72 hours. • What stops It: Prompt treatment with antitox- : ins. Vaccines in development ap Tear to work • against five of seven types of known botulism. ’ J • What stops It: Vaccine, if given before or within four days of exposure. Seven million doses available in U.S., with 40 million more on the way. Side effects: One in 300, 5EE vaccinated people develops encephalitis.