Cautious, but not scared

Danette Goulet

While no cases of anthrax have been found on the West Coast, the fear

is ever present and scares abound -- even here in Huntington Beach.

Calls about suspicious mail are flooding Huntington Beach fire and

police stations. Although the number of calls has diminished to about 12

per day, that number is still about 12 more than they used to get, said

Huntington Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Jacques Pelletier.

Each of those calls is taken very seriously, Pelletier said, and goes

through a three-tiered screening process.

A few, like the scare at the post office on Atlanta Avenue two weeks

ago, have warranted the fire department’s well-equipped and trained

hazardous materials unit to be deployed.

“Since this started, [haz-mat has gone out for] three or four -- the

post office, couple others,” Pelletier said. “That’s the main message:

We’re safe, as much as we can be. We can’t make guarantees, we have to be

vigilant and observant but go about our lives.”

Huntington may be better prepared for any potential biochemical or

terrorist attack than many U.S. cities. It was one of three cities in

Orange County to qualify for a $300,000 Department of Justice grant as

one of the U.S.’s 120 most-populated cities.

That grant money provides training materials and equipment to better

prepare the cities for an attack by weapons of mass destruction, said

Huntington Beach Fire Captain Chuck Burney.

Massive field exercises held on the beach on May 23 were a major

practice drill for police, fire, emergency response, haz-mat teams and

area hospitals.

Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 the fire department has

continued the training paid for by the grant, just with an increased

public interest, Pelletier said.

“We hired a captain full-time to work on the grant -- Capt. Darren

Newton,” Pelletier said. “Currently, based on that grant, we have

biological testing units that are effective at testing specifically for

anthrax on the way -- they should be here in two to three weeks.”

While fire and police are preparing in case of biochemical warfare,

the post offices are busy keeping an eye out for anything suspicious,

while protecting their workers.

“Every single employee is being offered a set of gloves, Nitrile,

which is probably a better form of latex, and new masks that are really a

form of respirators with a breathing apparatus,” said David Mazer, the

manager of public affairs for the postal service in Southern California.

Although the offer is there, many employees are not making use of the

equipment, Mazer said, especially those employees on the street

delivering the mail.

In fact, if you walk into the Post Office on Warner Avenue in

Huntington Beach, everything seems normal. Clerks are smiling as they

take letters and packages from people with their bare hands.

“Most of our people in Southern California, they’re cautious, but

they’re using common sense,” Mazer said. “Chances are minuscule [that

they will encounter anthrax]. We’re telling them if you see something and

believe it to be dangerous, call local law enforcement.”

Safety talks have been done at all the post offices and main plants

since the first anthrax was discovered. Postal workers, many of whom went

through similar training already, are all required to attend the talks

and must be signed off as having attended.

“These [talks] explain what anthrax is, what to do if you get a

suspicious parcel and what suspicious parcels look like,” Mazer added.

“We also prepared a postcard, which you should be getting at home -- 137

million went out to every single home and business in America. It tells

you what to look for in a suspicious parcel and what to do [if you

receive one].”

Posters with the same information are hanging in the lobby of every

post office.

Information about anthrax is also readily available through the Center

for Disease Control, the American Red Cross or by calling a doctor.

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming

bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It can be contracted through the skin or

from inhaling spores of the bacteria, according to the Center for disease

Control’s Web site. When contracted through touch, small painless lesions

form, but patients also may have fever, malaise or headache.

If anthrax is inhaled initial symptoms often resemble those of a

common cold, such as sore throat, mild fever, muscle aches and malaise.

After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing

problems and shock, with meningitis frequently developing.

Doctors can prescribe three types of antibiotics -- cipro,

tetracyclines and penicillin, said Rebecca Long, from the Orange County

American Red Cross.

To be effective, treatment should be initiated early. If left

untreated, the disease can be fatal.

The Center for Disease Control is not recommending that physicians

prescribe antibiotics for anthrax at this time. The center currently has

enough antibiotics to prevent the disease in two-million persons exposed

to anthrax. The disease cannot be transmitted between people, according

the center.

“I think the most important thing to remember is that everyone just

needs to be careful and if you see something unusual do not open it up

and if you’re not sure who the sender is do not open it,” Long said.

Long said she can sum up the American Red Cross’ message easily.

“Don’t panic, don’t shake it, don’t open it,” she said.

BOX

The following are tips from the Center for Disease Control for the

handling of suspicious packages or envelopes:

* Do not shake or empty the contents of a suspicious package or

envelope.

* Do not carry the package or envelope, show it to others, or allow

others to examine it.

* Put the package or envelope on a stable surface; do not sniff,

touch, taste or look closely at it or any contents that may have spilled.

* Alert others in the area about the suspicious package or envelope.

Leave the area, close any doors, and take actions to prevent others from

entering the area. If possible, shut off the ventilation system.

* Wash hands with soap and water to prevent spreading potentially

infectious material to face or skin.

* Seek additional instructions for exposed or potentially exposed

persons.

* If at work, notify a supervisor, a security officer, or a law

enforcement official. If at home, contact the local law enforcement

agency.

* If possible, create a list of persons who were in the room or area

when this suspicious letter or package was recognized and a list of

persons who also may have handled this package or letter.

* Give the list to both the local public health authorities and law

enforcement officials.