The thought of a biological attack on you, your family, or your town is a terrifying thought that you may find crossing your mind often nowadays. The world is unpredictable, as it always has been, and it pays off to be ready for anything - including biological threats.
History - Anthrax
The Amerithrax attacks that occurred soon after the events of 9/11 were a terrifying ordeal. Letters were laced with anthrax and appeared in mailboxes across the country. Five people were killed, and 17 were made ill - and to this day it remains one of the largest and most complex cases in the history of American law enforcement.
In mid September 2001, a mail carrier who had supposedly delivered one of the letters without her knowledge had begun to feel ill. Not knowing what else to do, she got herself to a hospital and reported her symptoms. She had come into contact with anthrax.
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Buy on AmazonYou prepare for biological threats the same way you prepare for other acts of terrorism - educating yourself and staying alert is one of the best ways to protect yourself and the people you love.
It's best to have a talk with your family about what to do when a biological threat is imminent. Be sure to educate yourself on the main three basic groups of biological agents that are most likely to be weaponized. Bacteria, toxins, and viruses are the main three you should stay up-to-date on.
Have a discussion with your family and go over safety guidelines without overly frightening or panicking your loved ones - take the time to create a plan together.
Preparing for a biological threat is a difficult thing to do. You never know when your family may be under threat of a biological attack, and therefore, cannot be prepared every second of every day.
But that doesn't mean that there is absolutely nothing you can do. One of the best ways to know when you need to spring into action is keeping an ear open and listening to reliable news sources. Listen to alerts and medical professionals.
If you are under the threat of a biological attack or suspect one is underway as you read, it's important to act quickly. If you are in immediate danger, take the following steps.
Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do in the aftermath of a biological attack aside from care for yourself and your family.
The best course of action is to follow any rules and guidelines set by authorities and medical professionals.
You may find that you have been instructed to evacuate and seek temporary shelter if your area is now contaminated.
Follow instructions given to you by the proper authorities when evacuating, and make sure you have an evacuation route in mind.
Have a shelter in mind before you are under threat of a biological attack - know where public shelters are or have a family member or friend to stay with. Be sure to clear your emergency evacuation plan with whoever you will be staying with beforehand.
There are a few items you will want to take with you before evacuating that normally would not be found in a standard emergency kit. Pack the following, and never leave a pet behind in an emergency situation.
Feel free to adjust your list of supplies to take with you in an evacuation to fit your family's needs - and remember to have an emergency kit on hand in addition to your other essential items.
But remember: most items can be replaced - people cannot. Your main priority should be getting yourself, your pets, and the rest of your family to safety before anything else.
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The gear you'll need to survive. The gear you'll need for evacuation is exactly the same as what you might need when you're staying home to weather out the storm.
When a biological threat is imminent there won't be a lot of time to gather supplies, meaning that when you least expect it, an emergency kit full of supplies might just save your life.
Gather the supplies on our list and keep them in an easy-to-carry bag somewhere accessible. Try to keep smaller supplies on your person - such as a whistle. Do not panic-buy or hoard supplies.
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