Emergency Plan Manual

AHCA Form 3110-1022, Rev March 2013 Rule 59A-8.027, Florida Administrative Code http://ahca.myflorida.com/MCHQ/Health_Facility_Regulation/Home_Care/HHA/index.shtml#other . Page 42 of 54 Terrorist attacks like the ones we experienced on September 11, 2001 have left many concerned about the possibility of future incidents of terrorism in the United States and their potential impact. They have raised uncertainty about what might happen next, increasing stress levels. There are things we can do to prepare for terrorist attacks and reduce the stress that we may feel now and later should another emergency arise. Taking preparatory action can reassure our staff and their patients can exert a measure of control even in the face of such events. The Administrator of our Agency will activate our Emergency/Disaster Plan in case of any act of terrorism, and all chain of commands will complete their assigned duties as detailed in the plan. What We Can Do to Prepare for Terrorism , orientation to our patients: Finding out what can happen is the first step, like Explosions, Biological or Chemical threats, Nuclear blasts, Radiological dispersion device events, etc. Once it is determined the events possible and their potential in our community, it is important that we discuss them with our staff, our patients and their family or household. Biological and Chemical Threats : Ensure your immunizations are up-to-date. Install HEPA filters for HVAC. Close windows and doors. Turn off HVAC. Listen to TV and radio for further instructions. Nuclear and Radiological threats : No way of knowing how much warning there will be. isten to local TV and radio for instructions. Turn off HVAC, close windows. Seal windows and external doors with duct tape. Ensure you emergency supply kit is up-to-date. Radiological Dispersion Device : Terrorist use of a Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD) — often called “dirty nuke” or “dirty bomb” — is considered far more likely than use of a nuclear explosive device. An RDD combines a conventional explosive device — such as a bomb — with radioactive material. It is designed to scatter dangerous and sub-lethal amounts of radioactive material over a general area. Such RDDs appeal to terrorists because they require limited technical knowledge to build and deploy compared to a nuclear device. Also, the radioactive materials in RDDs are widely used in medicine, agriculture, industry and research, and are easier to obtain than weapons grade uranium or plutonium. There is no way of knowing how much warning time there will be before an attack by terrorists using a Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD), so being prepared in advance and knowing what to do and when is important. To prepare for an RDD event, you should do the following: Find out from officials if any public buildings in your community have been designated as fallout shelters. If none have been designated, make your own list of potential shelters near your home, workplace, and school. These places would include basements or the windowless center area of middle floors in high-rise buildings, as well as subways and tunnels. If you live in an apartment building or high-rise, talk to the manager about the safest place in the building for sheltering and about providing for building occupants until it is safe to go out. Taking shelter during an RDD event is absolutely necessary. There are two kinds of shelters - blast and fallout. The following describes the two kinds of shelters: Blast shelters are specifically constructed to offer some protection against blast pressure, initial radiation, heat, and fire. But even a blast shelter cannot withstand a direct hit from a nuclear explosion. Fallout shelters do not need to be specially constructed for protecting against fallout. They can be any protected space, provided that the walls and roof are thick and dense enough to absorb the radiation given off by fallout particles. Outdoors: Seek shelter indoors immediately in the nearest undamaged building. If appropriate shelter is not available, cover your nose and mouth and move as rapidly as is safe upwind, away from the location of the explosive blast. Then, seek appropriate shelter as soon as possible. Listen for official instructions and follow directions. Indoors: If you have time, turn off ventilation and heating systems, close windows, vents, fireplace dampers, exhaust fans, and clothes dryer vents. Retrieve your disaster supplies kit and a battery-powered radio and take them to your shelter room. Seek shelter immediately, preferably underground or in an interior room of a building, placing as much distance and dense shielding as possible between you and the outdoors where the radioactive material may be. Seal windows and external doors that do not fit snugly with duct tape to reduce infiltration of radioactive particles. Plastic sheeting will not provide shielding from radioactivity nor from blast effects of a nearby explosion. Listen for official instructions and follow directions. What to Do If a Terrorism Event Occurs $ Remain calm and be patient. $ Follow the advice of local emergency officials. $ Listen to your radio or television for news and instructions. $ If the event occurs near you, check for injuries. $ Give first aid and get help for seriously injured people. $ If the event occurs near your home while you are there, check for damage using a flashlight. $ Do not light matches or candles or turn on electrical switches. $ Check for fires, fire hazards and other household hazards. Angel Home Care Services, Inc.