IAFC Offers Resources For Potential Anthrax Threats

White powder was found in three separate mail facilities in the Washington, D.C. metro area recently. However, according to a Washington Post story, after a series of tests U.S. Military Officials are now confident that there is no anthrax or health threat.

In response to the initial threat, and possible calls from the media to emergency responders about protocol for responding to potential biological or chemical threats, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has redistributed guidelines for handling packages with suspicion of biological threat.

In cooperation with the FBI Hazardous Materials Response Unit FBI Laboratory Division in 2004, the IAFC developed "Model Procedures for Responding to a Package with Suspicion of a Biological Threat." This standard operating guideline provides:

• A decision matrix for managing a package with a suspicious substance
• Identifying and assessing biological threats
• Responder procedures
• Decontamination guidelines and a number of resources on equipment and biological detection methods and a list of additional resources.

To further assist emergency responders specifically with white powder calls, additional resources may be found on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Web site.

For assistance with media calls, emergency responders can call the IAFC communications department, 703/273-0911. KW