Terrorism Survival

In light of the recently heightened concerns for public safety as a result of acts and threats of terrorism, it is now more important than ever to address the issue of terrorism awareness and survival.

Terrorists have the knowledge and the capability to strike anywhere in the world. We have seen that when properly motivated they will do whatever they have to do in order to achieve their goals.

Recent examples of terrorist attacks include the distribution of anthrax in the U.S. Mail System, 2001, the World Trade Center/Pentagon attacks, September 11, 2001, the bombing of the Murrah Building, Oklahoma City, April, 1995, and the World Trade Center bombing, February 1993.

There have been smaller bombing incidents, not necessarily classed as terrorist events, at the 1996 Olympics, at family planning clinics, and, recently, at social clubs.

All communities--especially those in free societies--are vulnerable to incidents involving terrorism. Nearly all of these communities contain some high-visibility target. These targets usually are situated along routes with high transportation and access potential.

Many may have manufacturing and testing facilities. Other examples of locations that may become targets for criminal or terrorist activity include:

• public assembly
• public buildings
• mass transit systems
• places with high economic impact
• telecommunications facilities
• places with historical or symbolic significance

Despite our security consciousness, if terrorists intend to wreak havoc it will be difficult to stop them.

Self-Protection

As already mentioned in the course, your self-protection as an initial responder is critical so that you can do your job effectively and not become a victim. Your exercise of sound judgment and use of your personal protective equipment (PPE) according to design specifications are your initial steps to protecting yourself. However, there are various protective countermeasures for the six common types of hazards. In this module you will learn how these countermeasures, depending on the type of incident, are useful allies of the first responder.

Recognizing Hazards and Their Physical Effects

You could arrive at a potential terrorist incident and not really know what you're up against. Your first concern must be self-protection. You must recognize the various hazards that may be present at any kind of incident: biological, nuclear, incendiary, chemical, or explosive. You need to remember, too, that a single incident can present a variety of hazards, and exposure can be fatal.

One commonly accepted classification identifies six types of harm you can encounter at an incident: thermal, radiological, asphyxiative, chemical, etiological, and mechanical. The acronym, TRACEM, is an easy way to remember them. Since each has different harmful effects, let's take a brief look at each.

Thermal

Thermal harm is the result of exposure to the extremes of heat and cold. Here we will examine only heat, but cold can be equally harmful. As you have learned elsewhere, heat travels by one of four methods: conduction, convection, radiation, and direct flame contact.

The contents of this web site are Copyright © 2009 Philadelphia Website Design. All Rights Reserved.

Please review our Privacy Policy.