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How to act in case of:
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How to Act in an Emergency
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How to Behave in the Event of a Hazardous Material
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Following directions carefully saves lives and minimizes damage
Hazardous materials (Hazmat) are found in many different locations in Israel, and primarily serve industrial installations, cooling plants, marketing companies, research projects, and more.
These materials include by definition any material that presents a danger to human life and health by inhaling fumes, swallowing, contact with skin or eyes, explosion or radiation of heat, and any material defined as such by law.
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Table of contents
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The Danger:
Damage to Hazmat stockpiles is liable to have a severe impact on human life and property.
As a result of such damage, the material is dispersed as a gas or aerosol.
The spread of these materials into the atmosphere represents a danger to anyone coming into direct contact with them.
Likewise, it is dangerous simply to be in the area because of how materials might react with one another or with anyone who comes into contact with them (destruction and burns as a result of a series of explosions or fires).
The formation of aerosol clouds in populated areas is liable to cause mass poisoning, pollution of water sources as a result of poisons entering the water cycle, damage to purification plants as a result of these materials entering the sewage system, and paralysis of the microbiological system that purifies waste.
How to Prepare:
It is important ahead of time to designate the space you will enter during a Hazmat event. As a first option, choose the Residential Secure Space (MAMAD) or your private shelter, only if this is inside your home and does not require you to exit one building and enter another. In the event there is no MAMAD or private shelter, choose a protected room based on the directions of the Home Front Command. Make sure that all family members know the location of the secure space or room.
It is important to designate such a room in every location you frequent with regularity. In the event of a Hazmat leak, preparing the space according to directions takes on greater significance than ever. Also make sure that you equip the secure space or room with your emergency bag and to undertake family preparations .
Likewise, residents of the following urban locations:
Yeruham, Kasifa, Dimona, Arara in the Negev, Ein Hatzeva, Neor Hakikar, Idan, Ein Tamar, Neve Zohar and Hatzeva
and residents of the scattered Bedouin encampments among the following tribes:
Al Hawashla, Azzama, Abu Krinat, Abu Awayid, and Abu Suleb
who are amongst those receiving Logol tablets, are asked to store the package according to the directions on the package (similarly to storing prescription medications), and to make sure that they are accessible to all family members. It is recommended to have a talk with the family in order to make sure that everyone knows about the tablets, where they are stored, and how to use them according to directions. The distribution areas were determined by professionals after assessing the risks and studying possible worst-case scenarios. People living in other parts of Israel do not need to keep Logol tablets in their homes.
How to Identify a Hazmat Leak:
On hearing a siren, or on receiving directions via the media and from this website.
How to Behave during a Hazmat Leak:
- Immediately close all exterior windows and doors in your home.
- Turn off and close all heaters and ovens/cook tops, air conditioning units (do not operate window AC units or central AC; you may only operate a split AC), all air vents and water and gas lines into the home.
- Enter the secure space or room, that has been designated ahead of time. It is imperative that you close the doors and windows, and that you seal other openings to the extent possible. It is recommended that you do not heat the room. It is absolutely forbidden to light a fire or to smoke in it. You may bring your pets into the secure space or room to protect them.
- If you are not in a building, enter the closest enclosed space (public shelter, etc.) you can.
- If you are in a vehicle in the area deemed dangerous, carefully stop the car at the side of the road, turn the engine off, and close the doors, windows and any other openings. If there is an enclosed space in the vicinity, enter it as fast as possible. If you are in a vehicle near an area deemed dangerous but not in it, you should immediately close the doors, windows and any other openings (including turning the AC off), and drive carefully away from the area using only those roadways specified by the Home Front Command over the radio.
In the event that you develop symptoms of Hazmat exposure, such as nausea, headache, shortness of breath, burns on the skin or irritations in the nose and eyes, rinse the irritated limb with water (which may dissolve the hazardous material) and report to medical personnel (by calling Magen David Adom at 101).
Taking Logol tablets by those who have received them from the authorities should be done only in accordance with explicit directions by the Home Front Command publicized through the media!
Listen to directions publicized by the media and act in accordance with them. Updates will be given based on the type of Hazmat involved and on other variables.
Leaving the secure space should only be done once the Home Front Command has issued explicit directions to do so through the media.
Note well!
Going to the area of the Hazmat event endangers lives and interferes with the work of rescue and security personnel operating in the area.
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