The FBI asks everyone to remain alert in an effort to prevent attacks. Be aware of your surroundings. If you see something unusual, evaluate it. After evaluating for a short time, if you cannot determine if a threat exists or if you think a threat may exist, notify law enforcement. By doing so you will be taking part in the nationwide neighborhood watch program.

The FBI does not recommend private citizens attempt to use gas masks. Without proper training gas masks can be dangerous and cause death. There are a number of recorded cases in which gas masks were used improperly and children died from suffocation as a result.

The following guidelines are based on protocols developed jointly by Special Agents of the Los Angeles FBI office and the Los Angeles County Health Department. These guidelines are not provided because of any known terrorist threat. They are provided to educate you so, if in the event of a terrorist attack, you will be better prepared to react in a manner which will minimize injuries. These guidelines will also help you in the event of an emergency which does not involve terrorism.

If you are exposed to an unknown hazardous chemical liquid you should:

1. Move away from the liquid.

2. Take cover if a liquid is falling on you, or use clothing to protect your skin from contact with the liquid.

3. If you get some of the liquid on you: once you are no longer in contact with the source of the liquid, take your clothing off and immediately wash with soap and cool water. First, wash body parts which were not covered with clothing, and then wash your entire body. If soap is not available wash with cool water.

4. Get a medical evaluation as soon as possible.

5. Call 911 as soon as possible.

If you are exposed to an unknown hazardous chemical gas you should:

1. Move away from the gas which may be in the form of a cloud.

2a. If you are outside, cover your nose and mouth with a folded cloth, breathe through the cloth, and continue to move away from the gas.

2b. If you are in a vehicle, roll up the windows, close all roof openings, and close the ventilation system so external air does not enter, and turn the ventilation system "off". Also, cover your nose and mouth with a folded cloth and breathe through the cloth as you drive away from the gas.

2c. If you are at home, stay in the house, close the windows and doors, and turn the ventilation system "off". You may also want to breathe through a folded cloth until the threat has passed.

3. Call 911 as soon as possible.

4. Monitor radio or television stations for official information regarding the threat. "On scene" police and fire officials may provide information regarding the status of the threat.

5. Once the threat has passed, get a medical evaluation as soon as possible.

If you believe you are being exposed, or that you have been exposed, to a biological hazard you should:

1. Move away from the material.

2. Cover your nose and mouth with a folded cloth and breathe through the cloth.

3. Get a medical evaluation as soon as possible.

4. Call 911 as soon as possible.

If you are in the area of an explosion you should:

1. Take cover behind a substantial object to decrease the chance of being hit by flying debris. Make sure to stay clear of glass windows which may be above you, since they could become a source of dangerous secondary debris. If cover is not available lay flat on the ground.

2. Try to stay away from vehicles in the immediate area of the blast. Terrorists have been known to detonate secondary explosions in vehicles in order to increase the number of injuries.

3. As soon as debris has stopped falling move away from the location of the blast.

4. Get a medical evaluation from emergency responders.

5. If you witnessed the blast tell law enforcement what you saw.

If you believe you have been exposed to radiological material from a "dirty bomb" you should follow the guidelines regarding an explosion, and:

1. As soon as debris has stopped falling move away from the area of the blast and stay away from the debris cloud. A debris cloud could contain radioactive particles.

2. If you cannot avoid the debris cloud, use clothing to cover your skin. Clothing will give you some protection from particles.

3. Cover your nose and mouth with a folded cloth, breathe through the cloth and exit the cloud as soon as possible.

4. Once you are out of the debris cloud and a safe distance from the initial explosion remove your clothing, because it may have trapped radioactive particle.

5. Then, first wash body parts which were not covered with clothing, and then wash your entire body with soap and cool water. If soap is not available wash your entire body with cool water.

6. Get a medical evaluation from emergency responders.

7. If you witnessed the blast tell law enforcement what you saw.

8. If a dirty bomb were to explode, most injuries would result from the initial explosion and not from contamination of radioactive material. This is because it is very difficult to disperse radiological material, with a bomb, in amounts sufficient to cause a significant health impact. For those who take proper immediate steps to protect themselves after such an explosion, the chance of a significant health impact is diminished even further.

Police and firefighters are commonly referred to as "first responders" because they are often first to arrive on scene after the onset of an emergency. By virtue of being at the scene when an emergency occurs "first responders" should be those private citizens at the scene who may have already suffered injury or may suffer injury if they do not take the proper immediate action. By knowing some simple things you can do if you are involved in an emergency, and by taking immediate action, you "the private citizen" become a "first responder."

In most cases, following the above guidelines could greatly diminish, if not eliminate, injuries which could result from a chemical, biological, explosive or radiological event regardless of whether the event is the result of an accident or terrorism.

In many cases you will be at greater risk of injury in a rush to evacuate than you will be from an attack itself. Accordingly, in any emergency, try to stay calm, keep those around you calm and follow the appropriate steps noted above.