Disasters & Emergencies - FAQs:

The FDA provides this A-Z list of regulated radiation-emitting products & procedures:.

• Cabinet X-Ray Products
• Cell Phones
• Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)
• CT (Computed Tomography)
• Fluoroscopy
• Laser Light Shows
• Lasers Products and Instruments
• Mammography
• Medical Lasers
• Medical Ultraviolet Lamps and Products
• Medical X-Rays
• Mercury Vapor Lamps
• Microwave Ovens
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
• Radiofrequency and Microwave Products Other than Microwave Ovens
• Radiography
• Security Systems
• Sunlamps and Sunlamp Products (Tanning Beds/Booths)
• Televisions and Video Display Monitors
• Ultrasound Imaging
• Ultrasound Products Other than Diagnostic or Therapy
• Ultrasound Therapy
• X-Ray & Particulate Products other than Medical Diagnostic or Cabinet

Consumers have an important role in reducing radiation risks from medical X-rays. FDA recommends these steps:

Ask your health care professional how an X-ray will help. How will it help find out what's wrong or determine your treatment? Ask if there are other procedures that might be lower risk but still allow a good assessment or treatment for your medical situation.

• Don't refuse an X-ray. If your health care professional explains why it is medically needed, then don't refuse an X-ray. The risk of not having a needed X-ray is greater than the small risk from radiation.
• Don't insist on an X-ray. If your health care professional explains there is no need for an X-ray, then don't demand one.

Tell the X-ray technologist in advance if you are, or might be, pregnant.

Ask if a protective shield can be used. If you or your children are getting an X-ray, ask whether a lead apron or other shield should be used.

Ask your dentist if he/she uses the faster (E or F) speed film for X-rays. It costs about the same as the conventional D speed film and offers similar benefits with a lower radiation dose. Using digital imaging detectors instead of film further reduces radiation dose.

Know your X-ray history. "Just as you may keep a list of your medications with you when visiting the doctor, keep a list of your imaging records, including dental X-rays," says Ohlhaber. When an X-ray is taken, fill out the card with the date and type of exam, referring physician, and facility and address where the images are kept. Show the card to your health care professionals to avoid unnecessary duplication of X-rays of the same body part. Keep a record card for everyone in your family.

Preparedness

Being prepared is the best way to reduce the effects of a natural disaster or other emergency. There are a number of Web sites that can provide invaluable information about planning and readiness:

• Preparedness Today: Maintaining a Healthy State of Mind for Seniors (CDC and the American Red Cross)

• Get a Kit, Make A Plan, Be Informed (for Older Americans) (Homeland Security)

• Get a Kit, Make A Plan, Be Informed (for People with Disabilities and Other Special Needs) (Homeland Security)

• Keeping Food and Water Safe after a Natural Disaster or Power Outage (CDC)

• Surviving an Earthquake (CDC)

Pet Information

• Information for Pet Owners (FEMA)

• Resources for Planning How to Protect Your Pets in an Emergency (CDC)

Traumatic events are marked by a sense of horror, helplessness, serious injury, or the threat of serious injury or death. Traumatic events affect survivors, rescue workers, and the friends and relatives of victims who have been involved. They may also have an impact on people who have seen the event either firsthand or on television.

A person's response varies, but you may see different emotional, physical, and behavioral ways of coping. To learn about the signs and symptoms and how you can help, you may want to visit the following sites:

Coping:

• Coping With a Traumatic Event (CDC)
  This site provides general information about traumatic events and describes how people typically respond during a disaster. Information is also provided about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how you can help yourself and others.
  
    
• Coping with Disasters (MedlinePlus)
  This library site provides links to HHS and external organizations with resources for coping with disasters.
 

Tips:

• Tips for Talking About Traumatic Events (SAMHSA)
  Provides tips for parents, teachers, and disaster response personnel on talking with children and teenagers about traumatic events and disasters.
  
   
• Coping with Stress (CDC)
  Describes common reactions to traumatic events with tips for parents on what to look for and building a community support group. Crisis phone numbers are provided for children and school personnel.
  
   
• Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do (NIH/NIMH)
  A booklet describes what parents can do to help children and adolescents cope with violence and disasters.
   

Mental Health Resources:

• Coping With a Disaster or Traumatic Event (CDC)
  Provides information and resources for disaster responders, health professionals, States and Planners. Educational materials are made available for use by professionals.
  
   
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (NIH/NIMH)
  Research materials and resources are provided for professionals dealing with people suffering after a disaster.
   

Reducing your exposure to smoke in the air will help prevent health effects. You can reduce your exposure to smoke by staying indoors where you are safe, and, if possible, keeping windows closed. Run your air conditioner, if you have one. The fresh-air intake on air conditioners should be closed to prevent outdoor air from entering your home. Be sure your filters are changed regularly.

Avoid using anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves and candles, when smoke levels outside are high. Do not vacuum or stir up dust in your house. And do not smoke.

Ordinary dust masks, designed to filter out large particles, will not help protect you against smoke as they allow the more dangerous smaller particles to pass through to your lungs. For more information about effective masks, see the Respirator Fact Sheet provided by CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Regularly check the Air Quality Index (AQI) for your area. You can find out about the AQI for your area at: http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local

Learn More:

• CDC Fact Sheet: Wildfires
• Emergency Preparedness & Response: Wildfires (CDC)

Large-scale isolation and quarantine was last enforced during the influenza (“Spanish Flu”) pandemic in 1918–1919.   In recent history, only a few public health events have prompted federal isolation or quarantine orders:

• In 1963, a passenger arriving into the United States was placed under a federal quarantine order as a suspected case of smallpox.
• In 2007, a traveler with drug-resistant TB was placed in isolation.

During the 2003 outbreak of SARS, CDC did not issue isolation or quarantine orders.

Isolation and quarantine are public health practices used to stop or limit the spread of disease.

Isolation is used to separate ill persons who have a communicable disease from those who are healthy. Isolation restricts the movement of ill persons to help stop the spread of certain diseases. For example, hospitals use isolation for patients with infectious tuberculosis.

Quarantine is used to separate and restrict the movement of well persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease to see if they become ill. These people may have been exposed to a disease and do not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms. Quarantine can also help limit the spread of communicable disease.

Isolation and quarantine are used to protect the public by preventing exposure to infected persons or to persons who may be infected.

The Federal government derives its authority for isolation and quarantine from the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.   Under section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S. Code § 264), the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to take measures to prevent the entry and spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States and between states.

The authority for carrying out these functions on a daily basis has been delegated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Under 42 Code of Federal Regulations parts 70 and 71, CDC is authorized to detain, medically examine, and release persons arriving into the United States and traveling between states who are suspected of carrying these communicable diseases.  As part of its federal authority, CDC routinely monitors persons arriving at U.S. land border crossings and passengers and crew arriving at U.S. ports of entry for signs or symptoms of communicable diseases.

When alerted about an ill passenger or crew member by the pilot of a plane or captain of a ship, CDC may detain passengers and crew as necessary to investigate whether the cause of the illness on board is a communicable disease.