Platt College is Becoming Part of Concordia University, St. Paul

Chemical Events

Chemical events involve the deliberate release of a toxic gas, liquid, or solid and may cause immediate serious illness and/or death. Chemical events are easier to identify than biological events; some common chemical event symptoms include watering of the eyes, muscular twitching, choking, breathing problems, and loss of coordination. Chemically contaminated areas may include large numbers of dead or dying people, birds, fish, or small animals. If a report is received of a chemical event on campus:

• Notify 911.  Platt College will establish an initial quarantine perimeter of approximately 300 feet; no one will be allowed in or out of this area until cleared by officials. If the event occurs at night, the perimeter may be expanded, as heavy night air does not facilitate chemical dispersion. If a wind exists, a larger perimeter will be emplaced downwind to prevent further human contamination.
• If the report is from your immediate area, it's important to get upwind and away from the source of contamination as quickly as possible without leaving the quarantine area. Remain there until cleared to leave by emergency response officials; to leave without clearance puts even more people in danger.
• If persons within a contamination area cannot identify the chemical agent, public health officials must determine the type of chemical agent and the proper course of action; however, it's important to remember: It make take significant time to determine the exact chemical agent in question. Be patient.
• While in the quarantine area do what you can to protect yourself. Get as far away, and upwind, from the event as possible (while remaining in the quarantine area). When possible, remove clothing and wash thoroughly; look for a hose, faucet, or other source of water. Long, continuous watering down of contaminated skin is beneficial. Use plenty of soap, but do not scrub so intensely as to scrub the chemical into your skin. Cover your mouth and nose with layers of fabric such as cotton t-shirts, handkerchiefs, tissue paper or paper towels to reduce the possibility of chemical intake into your respiratory system. Remember, within the confines of your quarantine area; get upwind from the source of contamination.

Note personal health symptoms as well as those of people around you. Write this information down if possible to pass on to health officials. Remain calm, and await treatment/release.

Biological Events

Biological events are hard to identify immediately; often, the effects of biological agents are delayed. Biological agents may cause extreme sickness or death and may or may not be contagious to others. If a report is received of a biological event on campus:

• Notify 911.  Platt College  will establish an initial quarantine perimeter of approximately 300 feet; no one will be allowed in or out of this area until cleared by officials.
• If the report is from your immediate area, it is important to remain there until cleared to leave by emergency response officials; to leave without clearance is to put even more people in potential danger.
• Public health officials will determine what type of biological event has occurred and the proper course of action; however, it is important to remember that it make take a significant amount of time to determine the exact biological agent in question. Be patient.
• While in the quarantine area do what you can to protect yourself. Get as far away from the event as possible, while remaining in the quarantine area, and cover your mouth and nose with layers of fabric such as cotton t-shirts, handkerchiefs, or towels. Tissue or paper towels will work if nothing else is available. When possible, wash thoroughly with soap and hot water. Remember, within the confines of your quarantine area, if possible, get upwind from the source of contamination.

Note personal health symptoms as well as those around you. Write this information down if possible to pass on to health officials. Remain calm, await treatment and subsequent release.

Radiological Events

A radiological explosion is known as a "dirty bomb." Dirty bombs use conventional explosives to disperse radiological agents. Depending on the radiological material used in a "dirty bomb," the negative effects of radiation exposure may take hours or days to manifest themselves upon those exposed to the event. The explosion itself is obvious; the unknown here is if it is a "conventional" or "dirty" event. It is best to treat all "conventional" explosions as a potential radiation threat. If a report is received of a radiological, or "dirty bomb" explosive event on campus:

• Notify 911.  Platt College will establish an initial quarantine perimeter of approximately 500 feet; no one will be allowed in or out of this area until cleared by officials. If the event occurs at night, the perimeter may be expanded to regulate radiological dispersion. If a wind exists, a larger perimeter will be emplaced downwind to prevent further human contamination.
• If the report is from your area, get upwind and away from the source of contamination as quickly as possible without leaving the quarantine area. Remain there until cleared to leave by emergency response officials. To leave without clearance is to put even more people in potential danger.
• If persons within the contamination area are unable to identify the radiological agent used, public health officials must determine the type of agent and the proper course of action; however, it is important to remember that it may take a significant amount of time to determine the exact radiological agent in question. Be patient.
• While in the quarantine area do what you can to protect yourself. Get as far away, and upwind, from the event as possible while remaining in the quarantine area. Shield yourself with whatever is available; buildings, cars, natural barriers are all good sources for shielding. Minimize your exposure to the radiological agent; when possible, remove clothing and wash thoroughly; look for a hose, faucet, or other source of water. Long, continuous watering down of contaminated skin and clothing is beneficial. Use plenty of soap, but do not scrub so intensely as to scrub the radiological agent into your skin. Cover your mouth and nose with layers of fabric such as cotton t-shirts, handkerchiefs, tissue paper or paper towels to reduce the possibility of radiological intake into your respiratory system. Remember, within the confines of your quarantine area; get upwind from the source of contamination, put barriers between you and the contamination, minimize the time of your exposure.

Note personal health symptoms as well as those of others around you. Write this information down if possible to pass on to health officials. Remain calm, and await treatment and release.