Surviving a Bioterrorist Attack   By Geri Guidetti, The Ark Institute   "On September 11, 2001, the United States homeland was viciously attacked for the purpose of destroying, simultaneously, our government, our financial system and our military. Had the fourth jet, and perhaps a fifth, made it to Washington, D.C., it would likely have destroyed our historic White House and/or our Capitol Building and their occupants. As horrific as the toll of this attack was, make no mistake about it--in the minds of its evil authors, supporters and their suicidal drones, this "job" is not finished. Make no mistake about it--they mean to bring us down." Geri Guidetti, page one, Surviving a Bioterrorist Attack: Prevention, Treatment, Management.   "How much time do we have? Years? Months? Weeks? Days? Hours?" Biologist and Ark Institute Director, Geri Guidetti, poses the question that all of us are afraid to ask for fear we might soon know the answer. "How much time do we have before terrorists' first attacks on the United States with biological agents designed to incapacitate or kill millions of Americans in a matter of a week or two? Attacks designed to overwhelm FEMA, emergency response teams, physicians, nurses, whole hospitals? Attacks designed to bring us to our knees?" she asks.   The time question is critical because if we have such attacks across the country in the next year, we are simply not ready, says Guidetti, and if the attack involved the dreaded smallpox virus, the situation could rapidly become catastrophic. Some hospitals have a plan. Others have none at all! In fact, bioterrorism experts are warning that many physicians would not even suspect a biological agent in ill patients until it was too late. "We have never faced a potential crisis of this magnitude in the U.S.," Guidetti said. "Never."   Right now, local, state and Federal governments are scrambling to figure out how best to train police officers, fire fighters, EMTs, paramedics, doctors, nurses, laboratory workers and even hospital admissions staff on how to recognize, respond to and manage biological attacks wherever they may occur. Missing from the education plans so far, said Guidetti, is the general population, and these nearly 300 million people are frightened and anxious. "They are exposed to warnings of 'highly likely' attacks but no one tells them what they can DO about it!" she complains."If we've learned nothing else from the World Trade Center attacks, it's that trained first responders could easily become the first victims. In a biological attack, untrained Americans could quickly find themselves on their own."   Guidetti believes everyone would feel better--less anxious--if they knew more, knew how they might protect themselves, knew what to DO in the event of a biological attack. Surviving a Bioterrorist Attack: Prevention, Treatment, Management is her compilation of the latest information on fourteen (not two or three you hear about on the news) biological agents U.S. experts believe are likely weapons. Bacteria. ( Viruses. (Toxins. ( How much it takes to get sick. ( Incubation periods. ( Clinical symptoms. ( Diagnosis. ( Duration of illness. ( Lethality. Vaccines. ( Antibiotics that will or will not work, how much you need to take, and how often. ( Prevention. (Disinfection of your body and surroundings. ( How much time you have to get medical help. ( How to prevent the spread of contagious agents. ( How to protect yourself, your loved ones. ( Isolation of those infected. ( Gloves, masks, eye protection. ( Two glossaries of medical terms.   Section II of the book details all of the steps people should be doing right NOW to prepare themselves, families and friends for emergencies and disaster, said Guidetti. "Everyone needs to have an Emergency Supplies Kit they can grab if they have to evacuate their homes or businesses in a minute or two. You simply must be prepared to evacuate if you are told to." There should be enough for every member of a household to survive for three days. Then they need to assemble a more extensive Family Disaster Supplies Kit that will support them with all of their basic needs for at least two weeks in case they are confined to home in the event of a biological, nuclear or other catastrophic event. Guidetti warns that a biological or chemical attack might leave millions of people in great need and emergency agencies rapidly overwhelmed.   Surviving a Bioterrorist Attack: Prevention, Treatment, Management details, item by item, what you need in each kit. Food ( Water ( First Aid ( Tools ( Sanitation and Disinfection Supplies ( Personal Documents ( How to Purify Water, Even If It Is Contaminated ( How to Decontaminate a Well ( Food Storage Tips ( How to Survive Low Food Supplies ( How to Make an Emergency Toilet ( How to Make Effective Disinfectants ( How to Help Children Cope With Disaster   Because there is increasing concern about the possibility of a nuclear event caused by terrorist attack on one of the 103 nuclear power plants in the U.S., Guidetti has included the latest Food and Drug Administration's recommendations on protection with potassium iodide or potassium iodate tablets, as well as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's position on these tablets. Doses for infants, children, adults and pregnant/lactating women are provided, as well as a source for the tablets.   Guidetti said The Ark Institute has worked closely with the printer to keep the price just as low as possible so as many people as possible can afford to buy a copy. She is encouraging those who can to purchase an additional copy for their local emergency squad, church or others who will be critical to community support in the event of an attack. She hopes everyone will do and learn as much as they can now to be prepared. "Saving lives, preventing horrific losses is what this is all about," she said.     ********************   You can order Surviving a Bioterrorist Attack: Prevention, Treatment, Management by cash, check or Money Order, or by credit card using Paypal.com. For one copy, the cost is $20 + $ 3.95 for Priority Mail shipping (about 3 days). For multiple copies sent in the same box, shipping on the second, third and fourth, etc, copies is only $2.95 each. For mail order, send to:   The Ark Institute Dept. J P.O. Box 142 Oxford, Ohio 45056     To order by credit card, go to http://www.paypal.com and, if you are not already registered, register your card and address. Then click on "Send Money." First type, "Attn: Dept. J" Then list the number of books you want @ $20 each and shipping of $3.95 for the first one. If you order more than one book to be shipped in the same box, charge yourself only $2.95 each for shipping on the second, third, fourth, etc books. Total your order carefully and send to: mailto:arkinstitute@aol.com Your order will be filled the same day it is received, usually within 15 minutes!