Guidelines for Screening Suspicious Packages and Letters
Concerns for Biological or
Chemical Threats
Recent
events have heightened our concerns about exposure to biological or chemical
agents, especially anthrax. Although
any threatened exposure to biological or chemical agents must be treated as
though it is real, it is more likely that the threat is not real. If the suspected biological agent is
reported as anthrax, be assured that it is NOT generally contagious (i.e.,
spread from person to person) and that treatment is available and effective if
administered before the onset of symptoms.
Additional information on anthrax may be found at www.uidaho.edu/safety.
What is a suspicious
package or letter? Common features of
suspect packages or letters are:
•
Liquid
leaking from package
•
Hand-applied
postage
•
Excessive
postage
•
Addressed
to a position, not a person
•
No
return address
•
Hand
written or poorly typed address
•
Not
in business format envelopes
•
Misspelling
of common words
•
Restrictive
markings such as "Confidential", "Personal", etc.
•
Excessive
weight and/or feel of a powdery or foreign substance
•
Foreign
post marks and/or writing
•
Source
of the letter/package is not recognized by recipient/addressee
What do you do if you
believe you have received a suspect package or letter?
1.
Do
not open the letter or package.
2.
Contact
Moscow Police at 882-2677; if outside of Moscow, contact your local police.
3.
Remain
at the site until police arrive with instructions.
What do you do if you
inadvertently open a suspect package/letter or if it is leaking liquid or an
unknown substance?
1. Immediately set the item down gently at the location
where it was opened.
2. Contact Moscow Police at 9-911; outside of Moscow,
contact local emergency number.
3. All potentially exposed persons should leave the area and
wash exposed skin with soap and water.
4. Return to an area within the building adjacent to the
initial exposure and wait for police (For example, a hallway outside the original
room).
5. Do not allow others into the area. If anyone enters the area, they should stay
in the area until instructed to leave by Moscow Police.
6. Remember that this is NOT a medical emergency yet, but it
is a potential contamination problem.
7. This is a potential crime scene - preserve evidence and
pay attention.
What you should NOT
do:
1. DO NOT pass the letter or package to others to look at.
2. DO NOT disturb any contents in the letter or package. Handling the letter/package
may only spread the substance inside and increase
the chances of it getting into the air.
3. DO NOT ignore the threat, it must be treated as real
until properly evaluated.
4. DO NOT leave the building until instructed to do so.
Following
the procedures above will promote the highest level of safety while minimizing
the disruption associated with these incidents. Public safety/healthcare responders can evaluate the risk to
those in the room at the time of potential exposure, as well as any impact on
the remainder of the building. Based
upon that risk assessment, further emergency measures may be implemented as
necessary. If the risk is found to be
minimal, other areas of the facility will not be disrupted and any necessary
actions to return the affected area to normal activity will begin as soon as
possible.
MOSCOW POLICE DEPARTMENT
(882-2677)/LOCAL POLICE IN YOUR AREA
OR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY (885-6524)
October
17, 2001