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Safeguarding against terror: 5 don'ts
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October 25, 2001: 4:03 p.m. ET
What some of us do to feel safe may not be that effective.
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NEW YORK (CNNmoney) - Unlike anthrax, anxiety is highly contagious -- and made worse by the sense that there's little one can do to avert danger.
That's why some of us in the wake of Sept. 11 have taken measures that -- when examined closely -- may prove to be more a waste of money than part of a sound survival strategy.
Here, we look at some of those measures, and offer some alternatives:
Buying gas masks: Aramsco, a safety-supply company, has typically serviced government agencies and environmental contractors. But after Sept. 11, the company, which supplies things like full-body protective suits and gas masks, was besieged by ordinary citizens looking for protective gear against anthrax and other biological attacks. People were dropping $2,000 and more to outfit their families, Aramsco co-owner David Naylor said.
"We try to talk them out of it. ... If their concern is a biological hazard, they won't have any warning signs," Naylor said, noting that symptoms come after exposure. The only way the gear will help is if you wear it 24 hours a day, he noted.
And just having a gas mask isn't enough -- you must be trained in how to use it properly, and it needs to be fitted to your face to be effective, said Art Cole, deputy director of operations for Transportation and Environmental Services for Alexandria, Va., and a retired Navy lieutenant commander with extensive training in gas attacks. (For the record, Cole doesn't own any protective body gear.)
Plus, not all gas masks are created equal. An effective, all-purpose gas mask should have a nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) filter with three layers: High-efficiency particulate (HEPA) that blocks anthrax spores; and two layers of activated charcoal for other types of attack, Naylor said.
If anthrax is your main concern, a simpler and cheaper alternative is a $2 filtering mask approved by the Centers for Disease Control, Naylor noted. And in the worst-case scenario of a chemical attack, your best bet likely will be plain old duct tape and plastic sheets, which can be used to seal windows and doors, Cole said.
Hoarding Cipro: New York pharmacies reported a run on Bayer's anthrax anti-biotic Cipro at the beginning of October, while drug wholesalers nationwide have seen the drug fly off their shelves at twice the normal monthly rate.
But according to the Dept. of Health and Human Services, stocking up on Cipro isn't a good idea -- in fact, it may even be risky.
First, hoarding Cipro reduces the national supply, preventing people who really need the drug - not just anthrax patients, but those suffering from other major infections - from getting it. Some argue that hoarding is just plain unpatriotic (see "Be a patriot, don't hoard Cipro").
Plus, there may be a temptation to take the drug prematurely. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher warned this month that overuse could build a resistance to the drug, hurting its effectiveness when it's really needed.
Finally, chances are there will be enough medicine if you genuinely need it. Bayer is now churning out the drug 24 hours a day (more than 15 million tablets per week) and has agreed to supply up to 300 million tablets to the U.S. government at the cut-rate price of 95 cents a pill (see "U.S. gets discount Cipro"). With Cipro now being supplied in conjunction with other anthrax antibiotics, such as doxycycline and penicillin, there will be enough anti-anthrax medicine to treat 12 million Americans, according to Bayer.
Stocking up on bottled water: While water supplies are widely rumored to be terrorist targets, there are two things besides increased security that make widespread contamination difficult, Ronald Dick, director of the FBI's National Infrastructure Committee, told a House subcommittee hearing. First, to affect an entire water supply takes truckloads of chemicals. Second, the combination of dilution, filtration and disinfection reduces the possibility of a large risk to public health. (See FBI: 'No specific, credible threats' to drinking water.)
Nevertheless, it's never a bad idea to have some bottled water on hand for emergencies, including storms or power outages. If you want to be really safe, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends a two-week supply - figure on a gallon a day for each member of your family. (See other FEMA water tips.)
Changing travel plans: Never mind that airlines have slashed their prices and are even giving away flights. Some would-be travelers are going to great lengths to avoid getting on commercial airliners. Former frequent flyers are loading up on videoconferencing equipment, taking trains and renting cars. Leisure travelers are shunning trips to Europe and planning weekend jaunts instead. In London, hotels recently reported a 45 percent decline in the number of Yanks checking in. And airports report 20 percent to 25 percent declines in passengers since the attacks.
Before you let high-altitude angst disrupt your travel plans, consider this: Even after you factor in the number of passengers killed on Sept. 11, flying is still far safer than driving. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, more than 20,000 people die in car accidents in the United States each year. On average, between 1960 and 1999, U.S. air carriers were responsible for only 60 deaths a year. And while the weak spots in airport security are ever in the news, new security measures actually may make flying safer now than it was two months ago.
Stuffing your mattress with cash: Having cash on hand is never a bad idea, but having thousands of dollars locked up in your house doesn't make a lot of sense, according to certified financial planner Tom Grzymala. "Scared money under the mattress only makes for a lumpy mattress," he said.
The risk of cyber-terrorism is as credible a threat as any other, Grzymala said, but the U.S. financial system is stable enough to respond well to any attack.
If having more money on hand makes you feel more secure, then keep double what you normally get from your ATM every week. If it's $100, then keep $200 at home. Chances are good if anything happens to the ATMs, service can be restored in two weeks' time, Grzymala said.
More importantly, he noted, if you want to do something to protect your finances, look at your investments. "Make sure your portfolio represents the true risk tolerance you have," he said. The stock market is likely to remain uncertain at least through the spring or summer of next year, he noted, and it's important that you're able to rest easy about your investments. 
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