Cooper County

Following are sets of guidelines, specifically on letters and parcels, what to do with suspicious packages and on general security guidelines. Please discuss these with all who handle mail in your area and post as appropriate.

IDENTIFYING  SUSPICIOUS  PACKAGES

Use caution with packages that may contain one or more of following:

	Excessive Postage
	Incorrect Titles
	Titles but No Names
	Misspellings of Common Words
	Oily Stains or Discolorations
	No Return Address
	Excessive Weight
	Rigid Envelope
	Lopsided or Uneven Envelope
	Protruding Wires or Tinfoil
	Visual Distractions
	Foreign Mail, Air Mail and Special Delivery
	Hand Written Poorly Typed Addresses
	Excessive Securing Material such as Masking Tape, String, etc.
	Watch for abandoned or unattended bags, boxes or briefcases.
	Report unattended luggage and parcels immediately. Never pick them up yourself.

  Report suspicious package to local authorities or contact:

• LOCAL TO Cooper County:  Call 911

• OUT OF THE Cooper County:  Call local authorities.

• FBI Bomb Data Center:  (202) 324-2696

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HOW  TO  HANDLE  SUSPICIOUS  PACKAGES

	Do not handle the mail piece or package suspected of contamination
	Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package;
	Do not try to clean up powders or fluids
	Notify your supervisor, who will immediately contact the Inspection Service, local police, safety office or designated person
	Place envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container, isolate, and cordon off immediate areas
	All persons who have touched the mail piece should wash their hands with soap and water
	Call a postal inspector to report that you've received a parcel in the mail that may contain biological or chemical substances. An inspector will collect the mail, assess the threat situation and coordinate with the FBI
	List all persons who have touched the letter and/or envelope. Include contact information. Provide the list to the postal inspector
	Place all items worn when in contact with the suspected mail piece in plastic bags and have them available for law enforcement agents
	As soon as practical, shower with soap and water. . Do not use bleach or disinfectant on your skin.
	If prescribed medication by medical personnel, take it until otherwise instructed or it runs out
	Call the Center for Disease Control Emergency Response at (770) 488-7100 for answers to any questions.

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HOW  TO  HANDLE  AEROSOL  RELEASE

	Turn off local fans or ventilation units in the area.
	Leave area immediately.
	Close the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering.
	Report the incident to local police, supervisor, building security official.
	Shut down air handling system in the building, 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.

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BASIC  SECURITY  TIPS

Be aware and alert in your area. Be aware of people, deliveries, packages and other activity in your workplace.

If someone enters your area, ask them how you can help them or who they would like to speak with. Good customer service is a must.

Be aware of strange behaviors such as people who appear out of place, "casing the office," distracted or dazed appearance, agitation and nervousness, open hostility, etc.

Get a good mental picture of the subject or, if possible, write down their description.

Create a special code word for your office that lets people know to call the police.

Remain calm and try not to agitate the individual.

Observe any suspicious packages or bags they may be carrying.

Try to engage them in small talk to help ease tension.

Do not handle any suspicious packages or items left in your area.

If receiving a phone call, try to get as much information as possible (especially if a threat is involved). Refer to attached sheet.

Remember "who, what, where, when, why and how".

When in doubt on how to handle a suspicious incident, call the police.

Report as much information as you can to the police. They need to know all that you can tell them in order to determine the best course of action.

Try to remember not to jump to conclusions based on media events, ethnicity, speech, manner of dress, etc.

Increase security around storage areas for pesticides, fertilizers and other hazardous materials.

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10  Things  You  Need  to  Know  About  Anthrax

1. What is anthrax?

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It most commonly occurs in mammals such as cattle, sheep, goats, camels and antelopes, but can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or tissue from infected animals.

2. How common is anthrax and who can get it?

Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions where it occurs in animals. Humans infected with anthrax usually have been exposed to infected animals or their products through their occupations. Workers who are exposed to dead animals and animal products from other countries where anthrax is more common may become infected with Bacillus anthracis.

3. How is anthrax transmitted?

Anthrax infection can occur in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation, and gastrointestinal. Spores can live in the soil for years, and humans can become infected with anthrax by handling products from infected animals or by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products. Eating undercooked meat from infected animals can also spread the disease. It is rare to find infected animals in the United States.

4. What are the symptoms of anthrax?

They vary depending on how the disease was contracted, but symptoms usually occur with seven days.

Cutaneous: About 95 percent of anthrax infections occur when the bacterium enters a cut or abrasion on the skin, such as when handling contaminated wool, hides, leather or hair products of infected animals. It begins as a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite, but soon turns into a painless ulcer, usually one to three centimeters in diameter, usually with a black center in the middle. Lymph glands in the adjacent area may swell. About 20 percent of untreated cases result in death. The employee at NBC who contacted anthrax has cutaneous anthrax.

Inhalation: Initial symptoms may resemble a common cold, but lead to severe breathing problems and shock after several days. Inhalation anthrax is usually fatal. An employee of a Florida tabloid publishing company contracted inhalation anthrax and died.

Intestinal: This form of anthrax may follow the consumption of contaminated meat and is characterized by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract. Initial signs include nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and fever, followed by abdominal pain, vomiting blood and severe diarrhea. Between 25 percent and 60 percent of cases are fatal.

5. Where is anthrax usually found?

Anthrax is global. It is more common in developing countries or countries without veterinary public health programs. Certain regions of the world (South and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Middle East) report more anthrax in animals than elsewhere.

6. Can anthrax be spread from person to person?

Direct, person-to-person spread of anthrax is extremely unlikely. It is not contagious.

7. Is there a treatment for anthrax?

Doctors can prescribe effective antibiotics. To be effective, treatment should be initiated early. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal.

8. Is there a way to prevent infection?

In countries where anthrax is common and vaccination levels of animal herds are low, humans should avoid contact with livestock and animal products and not eat meat that has not been properly prepared.

Also, an anthrax vaccine has been licensed for use in humans. It is reported to be 93 percent effective.

9. What is the anthrax vaccine?

It is manufactured and distributed by BioPort Corp of Lansing, Michigan. It is a cell-free filtrate vaccine, which means it contains no dead or live bacteria in the preparation. Anthrax vaccines intended for animals should not be used in humans.

10. Who should get vaccinated against anthrax?
            The CDCP’s advisory committee on immunization practices recommends vaccination for the following:

	People who work directly with the organism in the laboratory.
	People who work with imported animal hides or furs in areas where standards are insufficient to prevent exposure to anthrax spores.
	People who handle potentially infected animal products in high-incidence areas. (Incidence is low in the United States, but veterinarians who travel to work in other countries where incidence is higher should consider getting vaccinated).
	Military personnel deployed to areas with high risk for exposure to the organism (as when it is used as a biological warfare weapon).
	Pregnant women should be vaccinated only if absolutely necessary.

The anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program in the U.S. Army Surgeon General’s Office can be reached at 1-877-GETVACC (1-877-438-8222).

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