SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES AND/OR SUBSTANCES

The following information has been collected in total context or in part from various Federal, State and local agencies. The Cecil County Department of Emergency Services intends to provide information that has been validated and disseminated by the appropriate agency(ies). Questions can be directed to the Department of Emergency Services, (toll-free) at 1-877-498-8443 or 410-996-5350.


HOW DO I IDENTIFY A SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE AND WHAT ARE THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS ?

• Excessive postage
• Handwritten or poorly typed address, possibly with no return address
• Incorrect titles
• Title, but no name
• Misspellings of common words
• Oily stains, discolorations or odor
• Excessive weight
• Lopsided or uneven envelope
• Protruding wires or aluminum foil
• Excessive security material such as masking tape, string, etc.
• Ticking sound
• Marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or "Confidential"
• The package was not expected.

HOW DO YOU MIX COMMON SENSE WITH CAUTION ?

• Junk mail that is typically received should not be considered "suspicious" and simply should be discarded.
• If you have seen the mail before and consider it normal, discard it as usual.
• If your intuition alerts you based on the previously described characteristics, treat it as suspicious.

WHAT DO I DO IF I FIND A SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE ?

DO NOT PANIC ! Biological agents can cause infection in the skin, gastrointestinal system, or the lungs. In order for this to occur, the organism must be rubbed into scraped skin, swallowed or inhaled as a fine aerosolized mist. If a person is exposed to anthrax spores, the disease can be prevented by early treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Anthrax is not contagious and is not spread from person to person.

The following is a list of recommended actions:

1. Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package.
2. PLACE the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container to prevent leakage of contents.
3. If you do not have any container, then COVER the envelope or package with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this cover.
4. DO NOT bring the item to the fire station, police department or hospital.exposure should be limited.
5. Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).
6. WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.
7. What to do next.If you are at HOME, then report the incident to local police. If you are at WORK, then report the incident to local police and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.
8. LIST all people who were in the room or area when this suspicious letter or package was recognized. Give this list to both the local public health authorities and law enforcement officials for follow-up investigations and advice.

WHAT IF THE ENVELOPE OR PACKAGE CONTAINS A POWDER AND THE POWDER SPILLS OUT?

• DO NOT try to clean up the powder. Cover the spilled contents immediately, BUT SLOWLY with anything (e.g. clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this cover.
• If a cover is not available, leave the room and SLOWLY CLOSE the door. Section off the area to prevent others from entering.
• Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door SLOWLY or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e. keep others away).
• WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.

What to do next.

• If you are at HOME, then report the incident to local police.
• If you are at WORK, then report the incident to local police and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.
• REMOVE heavily contaminate clothing as soon as possible and place in a plastic bag or some other container that can be sealed. This clothing bag should be given to the emergency responders for proper handling.
• SHOWER with soap and water as soon as possible. Do Not Use Bleach Or Other Disinfectant On Your Skin.
• If possible, list all people who were in the room or area, especially those who had actual contact with the powder. Give this list to both the local public health authorities so that proper instructions can be given for medical follow-up and to law enforcement officials for further investigation.

WHAT IF YOUR SUSPECT THAT A ROOM IS CONTAMINATED BY AN AEROSOL ?

• Turn off local fans or ventilation units in the area.
• LEAVE area immediately.
• CLOSE the door SLOWLY or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e. keep others away).

What to do next.

• If you are at HOME, then dial "911" to report the incident to local police.
• If you are at WORK, then dial "911" to report the incident and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.
• If possible, list all people who were in the room or area. Give this list to both the local public health authorities so that proper instructions can be given for medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials for further investigation.