Personal protective actions are those actions taken to protect oneself prior to helping others.

The first protective action is to avoid exposure to the hazardous material(s) and the area affected by the hazard(s). One may need to personally shelter-in-place, evacuate the scene, or place distance between the incident and themselves to maintain their own safety.

Once personally safe, the personnel should make proper notifications to ensure assistance is on the way. Notification is vital to ensure he/she is not the only one on the scene.

See the ERG for important information to provide when making notifications.