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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Chlorine gas is escaping from water treatment, industrial tanks, or mixed household chemicals — it damages lungs and eyes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Bleach-like or swimming-pool smell that is overpowering at close range.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Greenish-yellow gas or vapor near tanks, pools, or water treatment.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Immediate coughing, choking, burning eyes, or chest tightness.
Scene hazards: Pulmonary edema, Eye and skin burns, Reactive with many substances, Greenish-yellow vapor
Chlorine is heavier than air — avoid low areas, basements, and storm drains.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Move upwind — chlorine pools in low-lying areas.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hold breath and move through the shortest path to fresh air if you must cross a patch.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Alert others — chlorine is often worse than the smell suggests.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — In fresh air, sit upright and breathe slowly if coughing — seek care if breathing is hard.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Remove outer clothing that smells of chlorine and bag it.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Flush eyes with running water for 15 minutes if they burn or vision is blurred.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 — chlorine release, location, and whether anyone cannot breathe normally.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say: "Chlorine gas leak" and give address or facility name.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Report sheltering vs evacuating and number of people with symptoms.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stay on the line if anyone has severe breathing trouble.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Delayed breathing problems after chlorine can be life-threatening — hospital observation may be needed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hazmat must stop the source — civilians stay out until authorities declare safe.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT mix bleach with other cleaners to "identify" the leak — this creates more gas.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT go back for belongings inside a chlorine cloud.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume recovery because coughing stopped — delayed lung swelling can occur.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Covering your face with a dry scarf fully protects you from chlorine
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cloth reduces exposure briefly but does not filter chlorine gas. Distance and fresh air are what save lives.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Staying too long in the cloud believing a scarf is enough protection.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Chlorine gas irritates and can destroy lung tissue. Symptoms may worsen hours after exposure.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Mixing bleach with acid or ammonia creates chlorine — this can happen in homes as well as plants.