In some circumstances a release of Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear (CBRN) materials may mean those affected and the environment may need to be decontaminated.
Decontamination would not always be necessary but would be used as a precaution depending on circumstances and the judgment of those in charge on the ground.
What should you do?
Move away from the immediate source of danger.
Wait for the emergency services to arrive and examine you and, if necessary, decontaminate you.
Decontamination involves showering with soap and water and then dressing in temporary clothing that would be provided. It is important that this take place where the incident occurred so that other areas, including homes, are not contaminated.
If you go home untreated you could contaminate others and make any incident worse
If there is a major power cut, turn off electrical appliances that will automatically switch on when power is restored - if several restart at once, they may overload the system. TUNE IN to local radio for advice and updates using a battery powered radio.
For up to date guidance visit the UK Resilience website, see Related Links below.