Disasters & Emergencies - FAQs:

What can seniors do to prepare for an emergency?

Preparedness

Being prepared is the best way to reduce the effects of a natural disaster or other emergency. There are a number of Web sites that can provide invaluable information about planning and readiness:

Pet Information

Helping Pets (FEMA)
Protecting Your Pets in an Emergency (CDC)

What can I do to prevent illness after a hurricane or other natural disaster?

Often the most vulnerable time during a natural disaster comes after the event has occurred. To protect yourself and your loved ones, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you begin with a plan to recover that takes into account each of the following disease prevention activities:

Protect yourself from animal- and insect-related hazards
- Learn More:
  - Updated Information Regarding Insect Repellents - West Nile Virus (CDC)
  - Rabies Home (CDC)
  - Rat-Bite Fever (CDC)
  - NIOSH Interim Guidance on Health and Safety Hazards When Working with Displaced Domestic Animals (CDC)
Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
- Learn More:
  - You Can Prevent Carbon Monoxide Exposure (CDC)
  - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After a Disaster (CDC)
Clean up safely after flooding
- Learn More: Flood Water After a Disaster or Emergency (CDC)
Keep your food and drinking water safe
- Learn More:
  - In an Emergency (FoodSafety.gov)
  - Keep Food and Water Safe after a Disaster (CDC)
  - Information for Conumers on Food and Water Safety During Emergencies (FDA)
  - Power Outages - Key Tips for Consumers About Food Safety (FDA)
Prevent the spread of infectious diseases
- Learn More:
  - Infectious Disease After a Disaster (CDC)
  - Cleaning & Sanitizing (CDC)
Make sure immunizations are up-to-date
- Learn More: Immunizations After a Natural Disaster (CDC)
Protect your mental health
- Learn More:
  - Coping With a Disaster or Traumatic Event (CDC)
  - Mental Health Awareness in Times of Emotional Distress - Tips and Resources (SAMHSA)
Prevent temperature-related illnesses
- Learn More:
  - Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety (CDC)
  - Frequently Asked Questions about Extreme Heat (CDC)
Prevent or treat wounds
- Learn More: Emergency Wound Care After a Natural Disaster (CDC)
Don't forget to care for on-going health conditions
- Learn More: Safe Drug Use after a Natural Disaster (FDA)

My family is in shock, feeling grief and anger because of a disaster. How do we handle emotional trauma and upset?

Traumatic events are marked by a sense of horror, helplessness, serious injury, or the threat of serious injury or death. Traumatic events affect survivors, rescue workers, and the friends and relatives of victims who have been involved. They may also have an impact on people who have seen the event either firsthand or on television.

A person's response varies, but you may see different emotional, physical, and behavioral ways of coping. To learn about the signs and symptoms and how you can help, you may want to visit the following sites:

Coping:

Coping With a Traumatic Event (CDC)
This site provides general information about traumatic events and describes how people typically respond during a disaster. Information is also provided about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how you can help yourself and others.
Coping with Disasters (MedlinePlus)
This library site provides links to HHS and external organizations with resources for coping with disasters.

Tips:

Tips for Talking About Traumatic Events (SAMHSA)
Provides tips for parents, teachers, and disaster response personnel on talking with children and teenagers about traumatic events and disasters.
Coping with Stress (CDC)
Describes common reactions to traumatic events with tips for parents on what to look for and building a community support group. Crisis phone numbers are provided for children and school personnel.
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do (NIH/NIMH)
A booklet describes what parents can do to help children and adolescents cope with violence and disasters.

Mental Health Resources:

Coping With a Disaster or Traumatic Event (CDC)
Provides information and resources for disaster responders, health professionals, States and Planners. Educational materials are made available for use by professionals.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (NIH/NIMH)
Research materials and resources are provided for professionals dealing with people suffering after a disaster.

What health effects can occur from breathing smoke?

Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles produced when wood, organic, and man-made matter burn. The biggest health threat from smoke comes from fine particles. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause health problems. Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, headaches, stinging eyes or a runny nose.

If you have heart or lung disease, smoke might make your symptoms worse. People with heart disease might experience:

chest pain,
palpitations,
shortness of breath, or
fatigue.

People with lung disease may not be able to breathe as deeply or as vigorously as usual, and they may experience symptoms such as:

coughing,
phlegm,
chest discomfort,
wheezing, and
shortness of breath.

Children also are more susceptible to smoke for several reasons: their respiratory systems are still developing; they breathe more air (and air pollution) per pound of body weight than adults; and they're more likely to be active outdoors.

When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy people may experience some of these symptoms. Common health effects, such as minor irritation, may not require a visit to your doctor. But, you should seek medical attention immediately if you experience more serious symptoms like those listed above.

Learn More:

How can I protect myself from smoke?

Reducing your exposure to smoke in the air will help prevent health effects. You can reduce your exposure to smoke by staying indoors where you are safe, and, if possible, keeping windows closed. Run your air conditioner, if you have one. The fresh-air intake on air conditioners should be closed to prevent outdoor air from entering your home. Be sure your filters are changed regularly.

Avoid using anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves and candles, when smoke levels outside are high. Do not vacuum or stir up dust in your house. And do not smoke.

Ordinary dust masks, designed to filter out large particles, will not help protect you against smoke as they allow the more dangerous smaller particles to pass through to your lungs. For more information about effective masks, see the Respirator Fact Sheet provided by CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Regularly check the Air Quality Index (AQI) for your area. You can find out about the AQI for your area at: http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local

Learn More:

What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?

Isolation and quarantine are public health practices used to stop or limit the spread of disease.

Isolation is used to separate ill persons who have a communicable disease from those who are healthy. Isolation restricts the movement of ill persons to help stop the spread of certain diseases. For example, hospitals use isolation for patients with infectious tuberculosis.

Quarantine is used to separate and restrict the movement of well persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease to see if they become ill. These people may have been exposed to a disease and do not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms. Quarantine can also help limit the spread of communicable disease.

Isolation and quarantine are used to protect the public by preventing exposure to infected persons or to persons who may be infected.

What diseases are subject to Federal isolation and quarantine law?

By Executive Order of the President, federal isolation and quarantine are authorized for these communicable diseases:

Cholera
Diphtheria
Infectious tuberculosis
Plague
Smallpox
Yellow fever
Viral hemorrhagic fevers
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
Flu that can cause a pandemic

Who has the authority to enforce isolation and quarantine because of a communicable disease?

The Federal government derives its authority for isolation and quarantine from the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Under section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S. Code § 264), the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to take measures to prevent the entry and spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States and between states.

The authority for carrying out these functions on a daily basis has been delegated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Under 42 Code of Federal Regulations parts 70 and 71, CDC is authorized to detain, medically examine, and release persons arriving into the United States and traveling between states who are suspected of carrying these communicable diseases. As part of its federal authority, CDC routinely monitors persons arriving at U.S. land border crossings and passengers and crew arriving at U.S. ports of entry for signs or symptoms of communicable diseases.

When alerted about an ill passenger or crew member by the pilot of a plane or captain of a ship, CDC may detain passengers and crew as necessary to investigate whether the cause of the illness on board is a communicable disease.

How is isolation and quarantine enforced during a disease outbreak?

If a quarantinable disease is suspected or identified, the CDC may issue a Federal isolation or quarantine order. Public health authorities at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels may sometimes seek help from police or other law enforcement officers to enforce a public health order.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Coast Guard officers are authorized to help enforce federal quarantine orders. Breaking a federal quarantine order is punishable by fines and imprisonment. Federal law allows the conditional release of persons from quarantine if they comply with medical monitoring and surveillance.

Where can I find information about the effects of radiation?

Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS): a fact sheet for the public (CDC)
Learn about radiation sickness and its symptoms.

Radiation and pregnancy: a fact sheet for the public (CDC)
Understand the possible health effects to your fetus from exposure to radiation.

Radiation emergencies information (CDC)
Find information to help people protect themselves during and after a radiological event.

Radiation Emergencies: Protecting yourself and your family (CDC)
Read about actions people can take to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their pets if a radiation emergency occurs.

How can I reduce my exposure to radiation from X-rays?

Consumers have an important role in reducing radiation risks from medical X-rays. FDA recommends these steps:

Ask your health care professional how an X-ray will help. How will it help find out what's wrong or determine your treatment? Ask if there are other procedures that might be lower risk but still allow a good assessment or treatment for your medical situation.

Don't refuse an X-ray. If your health care professional explains why it is medically needed, then don't refuse an X-ray. The risk of not having a needed X-ray is greater than the small risk from radiation.
Don't insist on an X-ray. If your health care professional explains there is no need for an X-ray, then don't demand one.

Tell the X-ray technologist in advance if you are, or might be, pregnant.

Ask if a protective shield can be used. If you or your children are getting an X-ray, ask whether a lead apron or other shield should be used.

Ask your dentist if he/she uses the faster (E or F) speed film for X-rays. It costs about the same as the conventional D speed film and offers similar benefits with a lower radiation dose. Using digital imaging detectors instead of film further reduces radiation dose.

Know your X-ray history. "Just as you may keep a list of your medications with you when visiting the doctor, keep a list of your imaging records, including dental X-rays," says Ohlhaber. When an X-ray is taken, fill out the card with the date and type of exam, referring physician, and facility and address where the images are kept. Show the card to your health care professionals to avoid unnecessary duplication of X-rays of the same body part. Keep a record card for everyone in your family.