Are you prepared? Here are some guidelines to follow to Assess, Plan, and Survive Anthrax Threats... PLAN IN ADVANCE Find out which law enforcement agency should be contacted in the event a suspicious package or letter is received. Panic-stricken 911 calls tie up the system and may not get you the response you need. Responsibility may vary widely from city to city and from county to county, so homework in this area is essential. Have a written plan and distribute it throughout the organization. All mail and privately delivered parcels should be screened at the mailroom before being distributed. The recipient of a suspicious package or letter may be the first person to notice there is something amiss. Make sure every employee in every department is trained on what to do if they receive one. Train mailroom employees on how to recognize suspicious packages or letters. Check out sources of information carefully and don't fall for hoaxes and rumors. Despite what you may have seen in an e-mailed chain letter, ironing mail won't destroy anthrax, and neither will a spin in the microwave. WHAT TO LOOK FOR - two or more of these factors mean a letter or package that deserves a closer look No return address or one that can't be verified as legitimate. Excessive postage. Handwritten or poorly typed address, incorrect titles or titles with no name or misspelling of common words. Addressed to someone no longer with the organization or not addressed to a specific person. Marked with restrictions such as "personal", "confidential" or "do not x-ray". Powdery substance on the outside. Unusual weight given its size, lopsided or oddly shaped. Unusual amount of tape. Odors, oily stains, leaks or discolorations on envelope or package. Source: U.S. Postal Service Publication 166, 9/2002 WHAT TO DO Stay calm - you've got a plan. Notify supervisor or individual specified in the plan. That person is responsible for notifying the law enforcement agencies identified in the plan. Handle the package or letter with care - don't shake or bump it. Don't open, smell, touch or taste it. Wash hands and face, and put on gloves and mask to reduce exposure. Isolate immediately by double-bagging in plastic and sealing. Evacuate the area, closing all windows and doors. Don't allow anyone but law enforcement and medical personnel in or out of the area. If possible, turn off ventilation systems serving the area including air conditioning, heat and fans. Everyone who came in contact with the suspicious package or letter should wash their hands with soap and warm water, then their faces. If possible, change clothes in the workplace, and seal them in plastic bags for examination by authorities. Shower as soon as practical. Don't use bleach or disinfectant on your skin. Make a list of everyone who might have had contact and give it to law enforcement. Contact the FBI and postal inspectors. RESOURCES U.S. Postal Service, www.usps.com "Mail Center Security Guidelines" (Publication 166, September 2002) offers a comprehensive look at mailroom security from explosives to radiological and biological threats. Type "Publication 166" in the search window and print free of charge using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov offers the latest facts on anthrax and many other substances. Many printable documents and fact sheets. General Services Administration, www.gsa.gov, offers its course "How to Respond to an Anthrax Attack in a Mail Center" at no cost.