If your community comes under attack from chemical weapons, a pre-made emergency urban survival plan may save valuable time and therefore your life post SHTF. In this day of the Boston Bombings and 911 Attacks, many experts wonder if Chemical Threats are the next danger heading our way. These have the potential to be instantly fatal or perhaps have a more delayed reaction time of a few hours to a few days.
Types of Chemical Threats
Regardless of the type of toxic agent or of the method of delivery for the chemical threat, if you already have a pre-made emergency urban survival kit in your home, car and office, you will be far more likely to survive the deadly effects. Chemical agents can take the form of poisonous airborne gases or they could be hidden in the food and water supplies.
They could be delivered in the form of a bomb, or could be sprayed over us by airplanes like crop dusters used in farming . They could be ejected at us from water craft or could be intentionally placed into very specific foods found on every grocery shelf in America.
Although they are potentially lethal, the majority of these agents will dissipate quickly as they spread throughout the air. Having an urban survival plan and ready made emergency urban survival kit will help you through the first few days of the chemical threat until the emergency passes and you are notified that the threat has been contained.
Possible Physical Symptoms of Chemical Threats
Some of the physical symptoms and discomforts to look for might include nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath. You might experience red, itchy eyes or a burning of the nose and throat. Loss of muscular coordination is also a good sign that you’ve been exposed to chemical weapons. Also be sure to look out for the presence of dead insects, birds and other small creatures in or near your home or office. When designing your emergency urban survival kit, you might want to include standard types of medicines that might help to ease these symptoms along with gas masks, disposable coverall suits/chemical suits, and clothing to cover all exposed skin.
How to Plan for a Chemical Threat
- Create an emergency urban survival guide that clearly defines how each of your family members will contact one another in case the attack occurs when the family is in different locations.
- Define a meeting location for all family members to gather in case of attack. Have two places in mind. Choose a more local location, perhaps a police station or school that is known to provide safety for small children. Then choose another destination far outside the city limits as a second option.
- Create and construct your emergency urban survival kit in advance. Include items such as bottled water, properly stored food items, aspirin, Pepto-Bismol, anti-diarrhea meds and other common over-the-counter medicines. Include flashlights with spare batteries, radios, duct tape, a quality multi-tool and a proper first aid kit.
- Make sure to include your children’s teachers, babysitters, coaches and daycare workers in your plans. Notify them in writing of the emergency meeting place and of your contact information, including phone numbers.
- Don’t forget to make plans for your pets.