Emergency Communications Toolkit - Chemical Exposure Resources

The tools in this section will help you communicate during a emergency involving the release of a nerve agent. Coordinate all media contact with your assigned public information staff and follow your agency's emergency communications procedures.

News Releases. These news release templates contain areas to customize with information about:

your location,
details about the specific situation,
locations of medication or treatment centers,
updated case and fatality numbers,
quotes from local officials or
your contact information.

Important note: These are samples only. Do not use without updating for your specific agency. Some of these templates contain information about symptoms; check with your health officer or medical director to make sure they are accurate for the real-time situation.

News Release: Nerve gas confirmed
This news release template was designed to be used when the nerve agent release has been confirmed.

News Release: Alternate care centers established to treat nerve gas exposure
This news release template was designed to announce the establishment of alternate care centers that will care for those exposed to the nerve agent.

News Release: Nerve gas case/fatality update
This news release template was designed to be used each time the number of confirmed cases and number of fatalities is updated.

News Release: Additional alternate care centers to treat nerve gas exposure
This news release template was designed to be used when additional alternate care centers are opened.

Fact sheets and talking points.

Fact Sheet: Chemical agents
Facts about chemical agents; descriptions of the types of agents; symptoms and treatment; special instructions for minimizing your exposure. A Word version of this fact sheet is available in Spanish. (Translations are also available in PDF format in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese.)
Additional information about chemical agents
This information is for you to incorporate into new releases, fact sheets and other materials you may produce during the emergency.
Shelter-in-Place
If a chemical agent attack happens, authorities will instruct people to either seek shelter where they are and seal the premises (shelter-in-place), or evacuate immediately. This fact sheet gives instructions on how to “shelter-in-place.” (Translations are also available in PDF format in Spanish; Chinese; Korean; Russian and Vietnamese.)

Note: Use of these materials is not required. They were developed as resources to help in public health emergency planning and response. Always consult your agency's emergency plans and policies, and follow appropriate Incident Command System procedures.

Questions? We will continue to add resources to this site as they are developed. Please direct questions regarding this site or emergency communication resources to signs@doh.wa.gov.

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Washington State Department of Health
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Olympia, Washington, 98504-7890

Last Update : 10/05/2007 10:24 AM
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