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may be contaminated and DO NOT drink from a local water source or eat any food that may have been in contact with the chemical.

If you suspect someone is a victim of a chemical agent, use your head before you rush on the scene trying to help. You need to look before you leap, because you could be running headlong into your own demise. Here's what to look for as you survey the scene:

1. Look far and wide for puddles or globs of a potential chemical agent. If those puddles were what hurt the victim (and they very well may have been) you can't risk coming into contact with them yourself. Likewise, look for dust; obviously, if you see piles of powder surrounding the victim, you won't go anywhere near them - but sometimes it only takes a little bit of an agent to do some serious damage.

2. Look at the victim from a safe distance. If they seem to be covered in chemical burns, chances are that whatever caused them is still in the area. If they're in the middle of a seizure, they've very recently inhaled something horrible (and probably deadly) - so that's probably still in the area too.

You need to call for help and get professional advice before you attempt to assist anyone who may have been the victim of a chemical agent - you won't be any good to them if you're lying beside them dying.

Chemical weapons are scary. Trust me; you really don't want to know what they're capable of. However, if you happen to be in the vicinity of a chemical attack, knowing what to do can help save your life and the lives of others.

Learn more about this author, Angie Papple.
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