GENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR CIVIL PROTECTION Protection Guidelines

EmergencyTelephone Numbers

European EmergencyCall Number

112

Fire Brigade199

Hellenic Police100

National Centerfor Emergency Care (EKAB)

166

Public Power Corporation (DEH)

10500

Poison Control Center+30 210 7793 777

Hellenic Center for Infectious Diseases Control (KEEL)+30 210 8899 000

General Secretariatfor Civil Protection (GSCP)

+30 210 3359 002-3

Do you knowhow to protect

yourself?

MINISTRY OF INTERIORGENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR CIVIL PROTECTION

www.civilprotection.gr

EUROPEAN EMERGENCY CALL NUMBER

Protection guidelines

Do you knowhow to protect yourself?


MINISTRY OF INTERIORGeneral Secretariat for civil Protection


Protection GUiDelineS - 1

2 - General Secretariat for civil Protection

INDEX

Preface 5

Forest fires 6

Earthquakes 10

Tsunami 13

Landslides / Mudslides 14

Floods 16

Severe Weather Phenomena 20

Strong Winds 22

Storms 24

Snowfalls & Extreme Cold 26

Frost 28

Heat Wave 30

Volcanic Eruptions 32

Technological Hazards 34

Chemical, Biological, Radiological& Nuclear Accidents 42

Useful Numbers 47



The current guide deals with the protection from natural and technological hazards. Information contained herein is based on scientific knowledge, research results and experience gained from disasters.

This short publication on protection guidelines is easy to handle in order to get reliable information in case of emergency or even better before a disaster occurs.

There was an effort to include all potential hazards that could affect Greece. The disasters mentioned in this guide are not always frequent or dangerous. It is suggested that it is of your benefit to study this guide in detail. Studying this guide, will help you to plan, and decide on emergency response situation, and get an estimate on potential outcome due to those unexpected phenomena.

Discuss the general guidelines contained in this booklet and get yourself familiar with the instructions how to protect your life and property.

The guide entitled “Do you know how to protect yourself?” is one tool of information available by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection of Greece. The guidelines are also available at the web pagewww.civilprotection.gr

PREFACE


FoREst FIREs


to PREVENtA FIRE

IF You sEE FIRE

sewers of water to the walls of the building.

• Protect the windows and the glass doors by placing shutters from not inflammable materials.

• Cover the chimneys and the ventilation pipes with a specific, not inflammable, wire-cable so that the sparks will not penetrate the interior of the building.

• Don’t store inflammable objects near the house.

• Don’t put uncovered fuel- tanks near the house.

• Keep the fire-wood in closed and protected places.

• Buy the appropriate fire-extinguishers and take care of their maintenance.

• Be equipped with a water pipe with length proportional to the area you want to protect.

• A water tank, a non-electric power pump and a water pipe can protect you from fire.

• Ring up IMMEDIATELY to the Fire Brigade call center (199) and give clear information about the location and the exact point where you are, as well as information about the location and the exact point of the fire.

• Describe the kind of vegetation that is burning.

• Specify the direction of fire.• Don’t hang up before you give all

necessary information.

• Don’t burn litter or dried grasses and small branches (twigs) during the summer.

• Don’t burn open-air barbecues in forests or places close to dried grasses or branches during the summer.

• Avoid open-air works that may cause fire. Do not torch weld, use wheel or other instruments that create sparks.

• Never throw lit cigarettes in open-air places.

• Don’t leave rubbish in the forest. There is danger of ignition.

• Respect the prohibitive signs of access in periods of high danger.

if your house lies inside or near a forest or a forestal area• Create a fire break around your house

by clearing and removing dried grass, pine-needles, dried leaves, branches etc beyond 10meters of your house.

• Prune the trees to the height of 3meters, according to their age, and the condition of their branches.

• Remove all dried branches from the trees and the bushes.

• Thin the trees in a 5meters distance from your house so that their branches don’t lean on the walls, on the roof or the balconies.

• Space out around the building the woody vegetation so that the branches of one tree is at least 3 meters apart from another. For greater security and if the circumstances permit it, remove the woody and bushy vegetation around the building in a distance at least of 10meters.

• Don’t put plastic spouts or plastic


FoREst FIREs


• Close all the doors and windows and block up all the cracks with wet clothes.

• Remove the curtains from the windows.

• Move any furniture into the center of the residence away from windows and exterior doors.

• Close all the doors in between, to retard fire spreading in the building.

• Fill up the baths, wash-basins and buckets so that you have spare water.

• Gather all together in one place• Keep a torch and spare batteries

at hand in case of electric power failure.

• If your house is made of wood, seek shelter in a neighbouring building.

• If advised to evacuate the area follow strictly the instructions and the routes suggested.

as soon as the fire extinguishes

• Get out of the house and at once put out the remaining small spots.• Control for at least 48 hours, in fixed

periods of time, the perimeter and the exterior spaces of the building for possible small spots and re-ignitions.

if fire is approachingyour house• Remain cool.• Remove promptly all the inflammable

materials from around the building to closed and sheltered places. Their ignition might contribute to spread the fire in the building.

• Close all the passages (chimneys, windows, doors etc) to prevent fire-brands to penetrate the building.

• Shut off all the gas and liquid-fuels supplies inside and outside the building.

• Immediately roll up sunshades from the balconies and the windows.

• Open the gate of the garden to facilitate the fire fighting vehicle access.

• Put a ladder outside the building so that someone is able to climb immediately on the roof. The ladder should be placed at the opposite side of the fire direction.

• Connect the water pipes with the taps outside the building and spread them so that the perimeter of the building is covered.

• If visibility is reduced, switch on the interior and exterior lights of the building in order to be more visible through smokes.

if fire is next to your doorstep• Don’t give up your place unless

your escape is completely secured.• The possibility of survival in

a building constructed by not inflammable materials is great. On the contrary it is small inside a car that lies in smokes and flames.

• Enter the house with your whole family and pets.


EARthquAkEs


BEFoREthE EARthquAkE

DuRINGthE EARthquAkEif you are inside the house• Remain calm.• Cover yourself under any steady

furniture and protect your eyes using the interior side of your hand.

• If there isn’t any steady furniture around you, sit on the floor turning your face towards the interior wall, away from windows and furniture which could fall on you.

• If you are in bed, do not move and protect your head using a pillow.

• Do not try to move away from the house.

• Do not use the elevator.• Do not go out in the balconies.• If you are on a tall building move away

from glasses and exterior walls.• If you are in a recreation place or in a

store or mall, remain calm and avoid panic. Stay away from the crowd which could probably be moving irregularly to exits.

if you are outside the house

• Move away from neighbouring buildings as well as from electric or telephone cables.• Cover your head using a briefcase or a

purse that may be available.• Stay in an open space until the

earthquake shock stops.

if you are using a vehicle

• Drive to an open space and stop the car immediately.

• Stay inside the car until shaking stops.• Avoid bridges or pedestrian overpasses.

• Fix shelves and bookcases to the walls.

• Screw fuel and water tanks as well as heaters to the walls.

• Put heavy objects to lower shelves.• Remove heavy objects from above

beds and sofas.• Fix all lights.• Specify well protected spaces in each

room of the house - Under steady desks or tables. - Away from glass surfaces and

bookcases. - Away from exterior walls.• Specify safe spaces outside the house - Away from buildings and trees. - Electric and telephone cables.• Check the correct function of the

electric network as well as all connections of the gas network.

• Inform all family members of how to turn off the switches/valves (water supply, electricity, gas).

• Inform all family members of the above mentioned measures.

• Get a portable radio with batteries, a torch and a first aid kit.

• Inform, especially the children of the family, of the emergency numbers (112, 100, 166, 199, etc).

• Agree on a specific place to meet after the earthquake.


EARthquAkEs


AFtER thE EARthquAkE• Be prepared for the aftershocks.• Check for possible injuries to you or

anyone around you.• Do not move seriously injured

persons.• Follow the instructions of the

authorities and do not believe in ungrounded rumors.

• Use the telephone only in emergency to avoid an overload of the telephone network.

• Do not use the car, impeding the rescue parties.

• Avoid entering the house especially if you see damages, smell gas or see any cables destroyed.

if you are close the seaside (tsunami)

• The earthquake constitutes a natural warning for an oncoming tsunami. After a strong earthquake, move away from the seashore or from areas of low altitude next to the sea.

• Stay away from seaside areas until you are informed by the competent Service that risk is over. A tsunami is not only a wave but a series of waves with different time of arrival at the seashore.

• Do not approach the shore in order to watch a tsunami coming. When you see the tsunami coming, it will probably be too late to avoid it.

• In many cases, an oncoming tsunami is preceded by an important increase or decrease of the water level. This phenomenon constitutes a warning of the nature and should be seriously taken into consideration.

- Not all earthquakes cause a

During the earthquake indoors

• Cover yourself quickly under the desk.

• Fall on the knees and cover your head with your hands.

• Stay away from the windows.• Stay where you are until you are

given more instructions by your teachers.

During the earthquakein an open space

• Listen carefully to the instructions of your teachers and stay away from other buildings, trees and cables.

• Sit on the ground and cover your head with your hands.

• Stay outdoors.• If you are in the way to school, do

not change your itinerary and go on in the same direction.

• If you return home from school, do not change your itinerary and go on in the same direction.

tsunami. However, when you feel an earthquake, stay alert. A warning for an oncoming tsunami may follow.

- A relatively small-sized tsunami could be transformed to an extremely dangerous tsunami in a distance of several kilometers.

At sChooL


LANDsLIDEsMuDsLIDEsREMEMBER thAt…Land slides intensify the consequences of floods, which are the result of heavy rainfalls or melting of big quantities of snow.

They occur especially in sides with steep sloping that have being laid bare by fires.


• Stay awake and always be on the alert. Many deaths have occurred by landslides when people were asleep.

• Listen to the radio for warnings relative to the phenomenon of heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfalls of short duration may be extremely dangerous especially after periods of prolonged rainfalls and humidity.

• Watch out for strange noises speculating land movements. Such noises may come from trees snapped or breaking rocks. An initial noise from mud flow or rocks tumbling may be preceded by a huge landslide.

• If you are near a stream, be on the alert for any sudden increase or reduction in the flow of the water and an eventual change of its clarity. Such changes may indicate an activation of fragments flow or landslides from higher areas.

• If you are in areas where there is danger of landslides and mud flow, get informed of the possible ways of escape, in order to use them when needed. Remember that driving during a heavy rainfall is very dangerous.

• Be prepared to move quickly. Do not waste time. Give priority to save yourself and not your belongings.

• Be on the alert when driving. Roadsides are particularly sensitive to landslides. Watch carefully when driving for possible landslides, collapse, mud, falling rocks and other signs of possible fall of fragments.

• If you cannot move away, move to a higher floor of the building.

BEFoRE A hEAVY RAINFALL

DuRING A hEAVY RAIN FALL

• Be familiar with the land surrounding you. Try to find out if there were landslides or mud flows in the region by asking local authorities, people living there before you as well as the competent geological services or university sections. The sides where landslides have occurred are likely to face the same phenomena in the future.

• Help local authorities in their efforts to specify the land usage and fix the appropriate building specifications in areas that run the risk by landslide. The buildings must be built away from steep slopes, streams, rivers and their estuary.

• Take notice of the characteristics of the hydrographic network in your area and especially the places where the run off of the water converges, increasing the flow on sides covered by ground. Observe the hills and sides around you searching for indications of land movements, such as landslides, mud flows, fragments’ flow or gradual bending of the trees.

• Communicate with local authorities to learn how to face an emergency and the evacuation plans in your area, if such plans have already been elaborated. Develop your own emergency plan for your family and your enterprise.


FLooDs


BEFoRE A FLooDif you stay in an area with flood problems during the past

• Make sure that the wells and gullies outside your house are not blocked.

• Make sure that house drains function properly.

• Reduce your removals as much as possible.

• Avoid working or living in underground places if necessary.

• Avoid underground places and move to a secure higher point.

• Don’t cross torrents on foot or by car.

• Abandon your car if it gets immobilized as it might be swept away or flooded.

• Stay away from electric wires.• Avoid areas where there have been

landslides.

DuRING thE APPEARANCE oF FLooD

ACtIoNs IN FLooDED AREAsStay away from flooded areas or areas dangerous to flood in the next hours

• The flood is likely to have changed the area characteristics and waters might have swept away parts of the streets, the pavements etc.

• Dangers are imminent from broken pavements, areas with dangerous slope, flows of mud etc.


FLooDs


thE REstoRAtIoN oF DAMAGEs At hoME oR thE PLACE oF EMPLoYMENt If the area you stay had been evacuated, don’t return before the authorities indicate that is safe.

Before you begin restoration works at your place• Switch off the electric supply even

if the power company has switched off the whole area.

• Turn off the water supply in case the network fails.

to overhaul a flooded building, pay attention to

• Wear protective shoes so as not to get injured from objects or irregularities of the ground hidden by water.

• Examine the walls, doors, stairs and windows.

• Check the networks of electric power, water and drainage systems.

REMEMBEREven when flood waters recede, danger exists.

• The water is likely to be polluted from rubbish, dead animals, raw sewage or other materials.

• Be careful not to prevent the rescue–parties.

• Don’t approach areas where landslides and rock falls have been recorded.

• Check if your house or place of work runs the risk of a possible fall of rocks.

if you need to walk or to drive in flooded areas

• Try to find solid ground.• Avoid moving waters.• If you see a flooded street, stop and

change direction.• Avoid stagnant waters that could be

electric-current conductors if there are underground power cables or leaks.

• Follow the authorities’ instructions.


sEVERE wEAthER PhENoMENAtry to facilitate the work of the competent authorities with your actions and presence.


• Be informed by the media (radio, television, etc) on the progress of the phenomena. The General Secretariat of Civil Protection and the National Meteorological Service are the formal sources of information.

• In case of emergency call the Police (100), the Fire brigade (199) the Hellenic Center for Emergency Care (166) or the European Emergency Call Number (112).

• Note the above mentioned phone numbers in a conspicuous position inside the house and make sure that your children are informed of them.

• Help your children learn important family data such as their last name, the address and the phone number of the house, your cell phone number etc.

• Explain to all family members how to recognize noises being the sign of a disaster (i.e. sirens), when and how to switch off electric power, natural gas and water supply, how to use the fire-extinguisher, how to call for help, etc

• Get emergency equipment, such as a torch, a portable radio functioning with batteries and a fire-extinguisher.

• Get a first aid kit.• Take care of children and the

elderly.

• Be informed of the weather and the condition of the roads and be prepared, according to your destination, for any weather phenomena you may find (snow, ice, hail, rainfall, etc)

• Plan your movement in a way not to coincide with the peak of the weather phenomena. Travel during the day and prefer highways avoiding deserted and difficult to access roads. Furthermore, inform all your relatives of the itinerary you intend to follow.

• DO NOT ignore the instructions of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, the weather forecasting and the instructions of the competent agencies, such as the Traffic Police, the Port Police, the Fire Brigade, etc.

• Check the situation of your car before attempting any movement.

• Provide your car with all necessary equipment in order to face any heavy weather phenomena (wheel chains, anti-freeze, first aid kit, raincoats, umbrellas, rubbers, a torch, etc).

• If you have to move on foot, put on suitable clothes and shoes. Be extremely careful in order to avoid being injured due to the slipperiness of the roads and pavements or due to objects falling by the wind or hail.

• Use public transport.• Remain calm and be patient. Panic

does not serve you. On the contrary, it makes the situation worse.

• Be informed by the media (radio, television, etc) for eventual formal warnings or advice.

• Check the house and the rest of your properties to draw up a list of eventual damages.

• Notify the competent authorities in case you need help after having drawn up a list with damages.

GENERAL INstRuCtIoNs

IF You ARE GoING to MoVE

AFtER thE BAD wEAthER


stRoNG wINDs


ACtIoN to tAkE BEFoRE AND DuRING GALE FoRCE wINDs

• Secure all objects that may be swept along by the wind causing damages or injuries.

• Check all boards suspended.• Secure doors and windows.• Avoid activities in seashore.• Avoid passing near big trees, under

suspended boards and generally near areas where objects may fall on the ground (i.e., under balconies where different objects, such as flower pots, broken glasses etc may fall).


Danger from storms comes from very strong local winds, heavy local rainfalls, thunders and possible hail.

stoRMs


if inside a building

• Secure all objects that may be drifted by the wind or the heavy rain and cause damage or injuries.

• Check all suspended boards.• Secure doors and windows.• Do not hold electric equipment

or the telephone as thunder may pass through the wires. Electronic equipment (TV, stereo, etc) are extremely dangerous in these cases and should be unplugged.

• Avoid water pipes (kitchen, bathroom) as metallic pipes are good conductors.

if outside

• Try to find refuge in a building or in a car.

• If this not possible, sit on the ground. If you are in the woods, protect yourself under the branches of low trees – never stand under a tall tree in an open space. If you are in low land, be careful as a flood may occur.

• Avoid tall constructions, tall trees, fences, telephone cables and electric lines.

• Avoid being close to metallic objects, such as cars, bicycles, camping equipment, etc.

• Stay away from rivers, lakes or other water sources.

• If you are in the sea, get out quickly.• If you are isolated on a plane

area and feel your hair turned up (a fact that may indicate a possible thunder), assume duck position, burry face between legs

(to minimize the surface of your body and therefore the contact with ground) and drop away any metallic object.

• Do not lie down on the ground.

in a vehicle

• Stop the car by the roadside away from trees that may fall on the car.

• Stay in the car and turn on the emergency lights until the storm stops.

• Close the windows and do not touch metallic objects in the car.

• Avoid flooded roads.

evaluation of the distance that separates you from the storm• Calculate the time between the

lightning and the thunder in seconds.• Divide the time calculated by 3 in

order to calculate the distance of the storm in kilometers.

• Take all necessary measures, before the storm reaches you. This distance is indicative as the storm may appear very quickly above the area where you are.

• Protect yourself immediately! Do not leave the safe place unless you are certain that the storm has stopped.

ACtIoN to tAkE DuRING thE stoRM

ACtIoN to tAkE DuRING hAIL


sNowFALLs & EXtREME CoLD


• Keep your house warm and stay indoors, if this is possible.

• Do not let children go out unattended during bad weather conditions.

• Put on suitable clothes and shoes.• Check the watering network of your

house as well as the solar heater (pipes and window glass).

ACtIoNs to tAkE BEFoRE thE sNowFALL oR thE sNowstoRM

ACtIoNs to tAkE DuRING thE sNowFALL oR thE sNowstoRM

GENERAL INstRuCtIoNs

if you live in an area facing problems by snowfalls• Get heating materials (referring

especially to mountain settlements) and provisions for several days.

• If you live in a rough area, get the necessary equipment to shovel the snow.

if outside• Go to a safe place.• Do not expose yourself to the

snowstorm. If you have to go outside, put suitable clothes. Prefer many light and warm clothes instead of a heavy one. Prefer waterproof overcoat. Put on warm and waterproof boots.

• In areas where snowfalls are expected to occur, be extremely careful when moving.

• If it is necessary for you to drive, use wheel chains. Prefer to travel during the day. Use highways and inform your relatives of your itinerary. If you move in the city, use public transport.

in a vehicle

• Change your itinerary if there is a strong snowfall and you are in a rough road.

• Avoid driving in rough mountain areas.

• Keep safety distance from the vehicles in front of you. Stay in the car if it has stopped. Put a colored cloth on the radio antenna so that the rescue teams can locate you. Start the engine for 10 minutes per hour and remove snow from the exhaust.


FRost

Special attention is required in the areas where frost has been created when you drive a car. Be informed in advance, for the road network situation and make sure that you carry anti-slipping tire chains.

if you are on foot wear suitable shoes and be careful so as to avoid wounding because of slippery roads, pavements e.t.c.


If not, get the proper anti-freezing and put it.

• Make sure that there is no tap or toilet leakage otherwise repair them immediately.

• Be sure that the drains in the balconies and terraces are clean from leaves and rubbish and operate normally.

if in spite of all that, the central pipes freeze, follow the following instructions• Switch off immediately the central

valve of water-supply of your building and check your hydro-meter. If it continues to “run”, this means that there is leakage (broken pipe) in your network. Switch off immediately the central water supply valve and call a plumber. Ask for a receipt or a certificate for the leakage repair.

• If you decide to defrost the pipes, start from the part of pipe near the switch so that the temperature change is gradual. If there are no results call a plumber.

• Check if the electrical installations are wet or in danger and insulate them.

networks of water-supplies• Preventive measures for the

protection of pipes of your building from potential frost:

• Observe carefully where the central and the circumferential gate-valves of insulation (switches of your building) are situated. Learn where exactly your water-meter is on the pavement. Control and make sure that all the switches of the hydro-circuit switch on and off and work properly.

• Make sure the external pipes (pipes of solar geyser, surface system of pipes of automatic watering the taps of balconies) are insulated. In the opposite case, you must take care that they are insulated the soonest possible.

• If you are going to be absent for along time during winter insulate or better drain the network of the solar–water heating system. In addition regulate the heating system of your building, in order to be operated automatically in low temperatures.

• In case you have a solar–water heating system take care during the frost (especially at night) to switch off the water supply towards the boiler and empty out the water from the system. If this is not possible, leave the hot water tap open to drip.

• Don’t waste water to remove the snow or the frost.

• Try to limit the daily activities that demand increased water consumption (such as washing machines etc).

• Learn whether the manufacturing company or a technician has put an anti-freezing liquid in your solar boiler (in the case of closed circuit).


hEAt wAVE

Τhe following instructions of precaution are recommended by the General Secretariat of civil Protection, in co-operation with the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, and the Hellenic center for emergency care.


• Avoid long-lasting travels with the various means of transport, during the high heat.

Special instructions of protection for babies

• Newly-born babies must be dressed in the most light clothing. It is preferable that their hands and feet are free and not covered by nappies.

• When it heat is on, they must often be offered, apart from milk (maternity or any other) other liquids such as camomile, water, etc.

• Babies and the elder children are advisable to eat more vegetables and fruit and less fatty food.

• It is advisable for children not to stay for a long time under the sun and always wear hat.

Special instructions of protection for the elderly

• A very hot and damp environment in the great heat is dangerous for the elderly. In this case if cooling the apartment is difficult, it is preferable to move the elderly in cooler areas.

• If moving the elderly in a seaside district or in mountain is not easy, then staying in lower apartments of multi-storey houses is an easy solution.

• Generally during the day the room or the house must be hermetically closed, after being cooled and remained open for the whole night.

• Families with elderly persons shouldn’t leave them alone for summer vacations or many days of absence from the house. In the opposite case, they must secure that a person is taking care of them.

•��Αvoid�sunbathing.�Remain�in�shadowy and cool places avoiding crowded places.

• Avoid the heavy physical work, particularly in places with high temperature, and great humidity. Avoid walking for a long period of time or running under the sun.

• Prefer the light, comfortable and light colored clothing from porous material in order to facilitate the airing of the body and the vaporization of sweat. Wear a hat or another head gear from natural material that permits the good airing of head.

• Prefer the small and light meals, with emphasis on fruit and vegetables and cut down the fatty foods.

• Drink a great amount of liquids (water and fruit-squashes). If sweating is intense, it is recommended additional receiving of salt.

• Avoid alcoholic drinks.• Have many lukewarm showers

during the day. It will be good also to put wet covers on head and neck, as protective measures. Wear black or dark colored glasses which protect the eyes from the intense reflection of sun.

• Consult your doctor for the application of special instructions for those who suffer from chronic diseases (respiratory, heart-vascular etc).

• For those who take medicines have their doctor asked if they must continue them in their usual dosage as some of them increase the temperature of the body.

GENERAL INstRuCtIoNsoF PRotECtIoN


VoLCANIC ERuPtIoNs


You should be prepared for the phenomena that follow the volcanic eruptions such as: Mudslides Landslides Earthquakes Volcanic ash and acid rain Tsunamis

• If you stay at a district near a volcano draw up a family plan of evacuation and choose an appropriate way of escape.

• In case the family members happen to be away from each other (parents at work and children at school) draw up a meeting plan in a secure place away from the destruction area.

DuRINGthE ERuPtIoN

AFtERthE ERuPtIoN

BEFoREAN ERuPtIoN

follow exactly the evacuation instructions given by the authorities

if you are inside a building

• Close all the doors and windows.• Remove all the pets in a sheltered

place.• Remove all the machineries in a

sheltered place.

if you are outside a building

• Avoid moving towards the direction of the wind.

• Try to be covered in a sheltered place. If not possible, cover

your head to protect yourself from possible solidified volcanic materials.

• Move in districts with relatively high altimeter to avoid lava flows or possible mudslides.

• Wear long clothes, protective security glasses and a disposable mask to protect yourself from the volcanic ash.

• Don’t start the engine of your car.

• Remain in a sheltered place, particularly if you suffer from chronic breathing problems.

• Continue to wear protective security glasses and a throwaway mask.

• Continue to wear long clothes.• Clear the house roofs from the

volcanic ash as it can be very heavy and cause collapses.

• Avoid driving while volcano ash is falling.


tEChNoLoGICAL hAzARDs

GENERAL• If you reside or are often found in

an area with technological dangers (you can be informed on their types from the Services of the Prefectural Self-Administration) you should know that in cases of technological dangers you have two choices: shelter in a closed space or evacuation. For the potential choice of the two theoretical possibilities, you will be informed by the competent authorities.

• For your greatest protection:• Follow the instructions given by the

authorities.• Study and become familiar with the

below General Instructions in order to put them into practice properly, in case no Specific Instructions are given.


air from the environment (fireplaces, air-conditioning systems, etc). If the house has more than one floors, it is advisable that you choose a room in the last floor.

• Drive with great care when driving near industrial plants or near vehicles transporting dangerous material.

• After reading all the instructions discuss them with the family members.

• Make provisions of or have available in the same area or easy to bring together quickly the following:

- Sufficient quantity of adhesive insulating tape.

- Scissors. - Plates of plastic (cut in appropriate

size) and plastic rubbish bags. - Towels and cloths. - Battery radio (with the batteries

not inside the radio but beside the radio, otherwise they should often be checked).

- Battery torch (with the batteries not inside the torch but beside the torch, otherwise they should often be checked).

- New batteries. - Bottled water (small quantity). - Packed up food (small quantity). - Soap. - First aid kit. - Necessary medicine for the family

members.• Decide on the most suitable room

that offers the greatest possible protection. Factors to be taken into account: room in the center of the house, with the minimum number of airtight doors and windows, communicating with the bathroom or the WC, windows not to be found in the side of the danger, without any openings to prevent the circulation of

to put into practice the specific instructions that will be given during an accident or the General instructions proposed below, you should:

Stay in a closed area or recourse to a closed area. Your aim is to avoid entrance of dangerous chemicals in your house and protecting yourself against possible explosions (primary and secondary fragmnets) and exposure to thermal radiation.

if inside (instructions by order of priority)• Keep your temper.• Keep the radio and/or the tv on,

watch the announcements and follow the instructions.

• Close all the windows and the external doors of the house (do not lock them).

• Do not use the elevator.• Close the outside or inner doors of

the building (do not lock them).• Turn off all the air conditioning

systems either they belong to the central system or not.

• Turn off the ventilators.

PREVENtIVE ACtIoNs

BEFoREthE ACCIDENt

DuRINGthE ACCIDENt




• Cover the cracks (four sides) in doors and windows using adhesive insulating tape. Damp towels or blankets can be used however it is more advisable to use adhesive insulating tape or a combination of towels and tape. Cover the lock with the tape as well as door handle.

• Secure using plastic plates (cut in advance in proper dimension) and adhesive insulating plate the entry of fireplace, all entries of chimney-pots and ventilation systems, the doors and the windows.

• Turn off all heating systems.• Do not use bottles of liquid gas.• Close the inner doors of your house.• Go to the pre-decided room.• Stay away from the windows.• Do not use improperly the phone

(stable or mobile).• If, despite all actions taken,

dangerous gas gets in the building, roll up a towel or a cloth and cover your mouth and nose and draw small breaths.

• Take into account the time at your disposal.

if in another building• Keep your temper• Try to contribute to the

implementation of the building plan.

if in a vehicle• Keep your temper.• Close and keep closed the

windows, turn off the air conditioning and the ventilators.

• Look for a building where you can take refuge and stop your car carefully. If this is not possible, stay in the car.

• Have the radio on, listen to the announcements and follow the instructions given by the authorities.

evacuation

• Keep your temper.• If asked by the authorities evacuate

the region, follow the advised ways of escape.

• Have the radio on, listen to the announcements and follow the instructions given by the authorities.

• If you have enough time, close the doors, the windows and turn off the air conditioning systems of your house to slow down pollution.

if outside or near the place of accident

• Keep your temper, try to protect yourself and then offer your help only if you know how you must act.

• Move away from the place of the accident as soon as possible.

• Do not walk or touch unnecessarily places having leakage of chemicals.

• Do not smoke.• Try to cover your body as much

as possible and “filter” the air you breathe from dangerous gas, dust or droplets. Roll up a towel or a cloth and cover your mouth and nose and draw small breaths.




• Be prepared to give as many accurate details as possible (place, your distance from the place of accident, your name, a phone number, etc) and describe the event. You should notice:

- if there are victims, estimate the number of persons in the area (number of dead, injured) the symptoms they present (headache dizziness, irritation of the eyes, etc).

- the color of the smoke or liquid. - any strange odors or sounds. - the cloud characteristics (direction,

going down or up) or the liquid characteristics.

- if there is any information/ labels on the packing (barrels, containers and palettes) or on the tank- wagon (company name etc).

if you are• Downwind the place of the accident

(place B, below) move away vertically to the direction of the wind

• Upwind the place of accident (place A, below) move away against the direction of the wind and the water flow.

In general, it is advisable to move to higher areas of the region since many toxic and noxious chemicals are heavier than the air. Although the safety distance from the place of the accident depends on many factors (quantity and type of the chemical, day or night, weather conditions, etc) the advised distance - 800meters (leakage) - 1.600meters (fire, explosion)may be considered safe for the initial development of the accident. In special cases (great quantity, extremely dangerous chemical, bad weather conditions) the safety distance may be much greater.

If present in or notice an accident and realize the absence of authorities move to a security distance and then call:european emergency call number: 112fire Brigade: 199Hellenic Police: 100national center of emergency care: 166

Α Β




in particular, notice the existence of• orange plates informing on the

chemical transported and try to remember the two numbers (one two-figure/ three figure and one four figure) the so–called UN numbers

• colored danger plates in rhombus (red, yellow, blue, etc) some figure (explosion of bomb, black or white flame, skull and crossbones, etc) and number in the lower angle (1.1,3,4 etc)

• buildings near the place of the accident (installations, buildings, schools, lakes, manholes, etc)

• Do not hang up unless the operator tells you to do so. Further information might be needed.

if exposed in a chemical: • Call for medical assistance: the Poison control center: +30

210 7793777, the national center of

emergency care: 166.

It is not possible to give general instructions for every case of exposure to a dangerous chemical (poisoning, chemical burn).

Nevertheless if you take further steps you can reduce the possibility of pollution to the detriment of your health.

• If a dangerous substance comes in contact with your eyes it is important that you act immediately. Any delay may increase the possibility of serious harm. Unless informed otherwise, you should:

- Rinse out your hands quickly. - Remove the contact lenses. - Rinse out each eye without much

pressure using warm water moving from the nose to the exterior part of the eye for at least 15 minutes. Continue until you have no trouble at all.

• Ask for medical treatment.• If you have sound suspicions

that you have been exposed to a dangerous substance:

- Take off the cloths if they are polluted.

- Take them off in a way not to come in touch with your face. If this is not possible tear them or snip off with scissors.

- Put the cloths in plastic bags or in a bin.

- If possible wash yourself using water.

- Wait for medical assistance.


ChEMICAL BIoLoGICAL RADIoLoGICAL & NuCLEAR ACCIDENts


if you find yourself in a place where a cBr factor is released

• Stay calm. Do not panic.• If the accident takes place outdoors,

move away, if you can, by walk without touching anything.

• Do not get off too far and do not make use of public or private transports (buses, metro, taxi, cars, bicycles etc). Such a behavior could result in a broader dispersion of the dangerous factor and therefore in the public/private transports pollution as well as their passengers pollution. This could make it difficult for you to get help.

• If the accident takes place indoors make sure that all ventilation and heating systems, especially the central ones are turned off. Get out of the building and wait for the competent authorities.

• Seek shelter in the nearest undamaged building. In case of an outdoor explosion stay or find shelter indoors as this reduces the CBRN exposure.

• Once in a safe place, take off your clothes as soon as possible, put them in a plastic bag and seal it. Take the clothes off in a way that you don’t expose more to the CBRN factors the sensitive parts of your body (especially the eyes, nose and mouth). If possible shower with plenty of water by yourself or, even better, in couples in order to clean the difficult parts of the body (behind the ears, armpits etc).

The protective actions during a CBRN accident depend on its special characteristics (kind, quantity and clarity of the CBRN factor, dispersion, place of the accident, meteorological conditions etc).

Nevertheless actions in general follow the principles below:• Remove the dangerous CBRN factor

away from the body.• Move away from the dangerous

place of the accident and stay in a safe place

• Follow the instructions given by the competent authorities and collaborate with their staff.

Listed below you will find the General Instructions which should be followed until Specific Instructions are given by the authorities. You can also take a look at the Technological Hazards Protective Instructions. For the special case of an anthrax incident visit the corresponding page.

PRotECtIVE ACtIoNs


ChEMICAL BIoLoGICAL RADIoLoGICAL & NuCLEAR ACCIDENts


• Do not forget to report to the authorities anything that you have observed.

if you expose yourself in a cB factor without having knowledge of it: • It is possible that you have

symptoms as if you had a flu or caught a cold such as fever, cough, stomach or muscle pains etc (biological factor) or as if you exposed yourself to a toxic chemical substance (e.g. mustard gases).

• Follow carefully the competent authorities briefing –if there was any- and see if you meet the requirements mentioned in the bulletins. Otherwise inform the competent authorities.

• Call your personal doctor or the medical services and do not show up in any medical help centre (e.g. practice or hospital) without informing first.

• If this is not possible take off as many clothes as possible (if weather permits) and wait for the authorities who will take care of your decontamination. Be prepared that: 1) you or someone else will take off your clothes by tearing apart or trimming them. You will have to stand naked in front of strange people or people that you are familiar with. This procedure is necessary for your best health protection. 2) If you wear or carry jewellery with you be prepared to give them to the decontamination staff.

• If you have children or babies they will be allowed to be with you during the contamination procedure.

• Cooperate with the competent authorities as this will result in your best health. The most important advice is to follow the instructions given and not disagree.

• Do not be surprised to see that the decontamination staff wears protective forms. Their aim is to provide you with better protection and it will be done by insuring that they remain healthy and are able to offer it to you.



BE INFoRMED IN tIME, PRotECt YouRsELF EFFECtIVELYDo Not thRow AwAY thIs GuIDE - othERwIsE RECYCLE!Read more:www.civilprotection.gr

useful NumbersEuropean EmergencyCall Number112

Fire Brigade199

Hellenic Police100

National Center for Emergency Care (EKAB)166

Public Power Corporation (DEH)10500


Hellenic Center for InfectiousDiseases Control (KEEL)+30 210 8899 000

General Secretariat for Civil Protection (GSCP)+30 210 3359 002-3

Prefectural or Municipality Civil Protection Office

………….…………….…………….…Emergency Medical Services

………….…………….…………….…Hospital

………….…………….…………….…Family Doctor

………….…………….…………….…Water company

………….…………….…………….…Gas company

………….…………….…………….…Plumber

………….…………….…………….…Electrician

………….…………….…………….…Contact Person in case of emergency

………….…………….…………….…

Cut out this page and place it in full view

General Secretariat for civil Protectionwww.civilprotection.gr


MINISTRY OF INTERIORGeneral Secretariat for civil Protection

2, Evangelistrias st., GR-105 63 Athens, Tel. +30 210 3359002-3www.civilprotection.gr, e-mail: [email protected]


EmergencyTelephone Numbers

European EmergencyCall Number

112

Fire Brigade199

Hellenic Police100

National Centerfor Emergency Care (EKAB)

166

Public Power Corporation (DEH)

10500


Hellenic Center for Infectious Diseases Control (KEEL)+30 210 8899 000

General Secretariatfor Civil Protection (GSCP)

+30 210 3359 002-3

Do you knowhow to protect

yourself?

MINISTRY OF INTERIORGENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR CIVIL PROTECTION


EUROPEAN EMERGENCY CALL NUMBER


Date post:	18-Mar-2016
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GENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR CIVIL PROTECTION Protection Guidelines

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