Pediatric Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness: A ... - PHE Home

The standard dosimeter for most radiation workers, including medical personnel, is some
form of thermoluminescent device (TLD). These use some type of crystal, such as
lithium fluoride (LiF), calcium sulfate (CaSO 4 ), or calcium fluoride (CaF) as the detector
element. These dosimeters are usually read by placing them in a machine that heats the
crystal and reads its light output, which is proportional to the radiation dose received. An
advantage of some TLDs is that one dosimeter can be used for beta, gamma, x-ray, and
neutron radiation. Another advantage of the LiF dosimeters is that they are relatively
resistant to “fade” (i.e., the loss of dose over time) and are sensitive down to 1 mrem
(new LiF-Cu version).
Finally, electronic dosimeters have become popular. Most are about the size of a personal
pager. These are more costly than pocket chambers but are much more reliable, accurate,
and rugged. They also have a variety of features (e.g., alarms, digital readouts, dose rate
readout, etc.) that can make them attractive to many first responders.
Personal Protective Equipment
This discussion describes many aspects of personal protective equipment (PPE),
including the following:
• The need for PPE.
• The type of PPE needed for radiation contamination.
• How PPE for radioactive isotopes is different from PPE for chemical or biological
exposure.
• Temporary PPE in an emergency.
• Disposal of PPE.
• Department of Energy Guidance on PPE.
Need for PPE. Radioactive isotopes in the form of dust particles can harm a victim via
external or internal contamination. Radioactive contamination can be carried by air
currents in the form of fallout, which may travel great distances or settle on surfaces
locally, depending on climactic conditions. In war-torn countries, children can potentially
be contaminated externally by radioactive particles on the skin or clothing or by playing
on vehicles that have been destroyed by depleted uranium munitions. Terrorist attacks
with RDD (dirty bombs) can also generate considerable risk of contamination. PPE can
protect a health care provider from contamination when dealing with casualties from such
events.
In internal contamination, radioactive material enters the body via inhalation, ingestion,
or wound penetration. A small amount of radioactive material could also enter the body
through the mucus membranes of the eyes.
Type of PPE needed for radiation contamination. Personal protective equipment refers
to three types of equipment:
• Respiratory protection.
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