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

13. Record radiation-induced signs, symptoms, and erythema during the course of
medical management for radiation casualties to help triage and guide medical
management of casualties.
14. Recognize the pattern of biological responses associated with acute radiation
sickness (ARS).
15. Describe the pathophysiology and effects of radio- and chemotherapy including
bone marrow damage, diarrhea, and hair loss.
16. Explain the time-dependent clinical stages of radiation exposure (prodrome, latent
period and manifest illness).
17. List the diagnostic steps to assess a dose of radiation exposure.
18. Medically diagnose external radiological contamination.
19. Assess and care for externally contaminated patients.
20. Properly use PPE to eliminate personal risk while caring for victims of radiation
exposure.
21. Explain the mechanisms of internal contamination when radioactive material
enters the bodies of unprotected people through inhalation, ingestion, or wound
contamination.
22. Differentiate between public concern about terrorism involving radioactive
materials and medical errors during diagnosis that have been the most common
cause of significant internal contamination.
23. Describe the three pathways through which radioactive material can enter the
body (inhalation, ingestion and skin penetration).
24. List the various instruments available for detecting and measuring radiation.
25. Discuss the need for PPE, type needed for radiation contamination, disposal of
PPE, and Department of Energy Guidance on PPE.
26. Differentiate between PPE for radioactive isotopes and chemical or biological
exposures.
27. Describe emergency precautions when PPE is not available in a radioactive
environment.
28. Explain the basic principles of decontamination and priorities.
29. Explain the characteristics that render pediatric patients uniquely sensitive to the
effects of radiation exposure.
30. Explain the well-documented long-term effects of radiation exposure to the fetus
and child.
31. Recount the psychological vulnerability of children involved in a radiation related
incident.
32. Treat acute pediatric radiation syndrome both supportively and with specific
actions and medications.
33. Prioritize external decontamination before treatment of internal decontamination.
34. Use potassium iodide (KI) to reduce thyroid uptake of radioactive iodine.
35. Keep available and use a table of threshold radioactive exposures and
recommended prophylactic single doses of KI.
36. Treat internal contamination with appropriate chelating agents.
37. Prioritize steps in the treatment of victims of combined injuries, that is,
stabilization of life threatening injuries prior to radiation injuries.
38. Manage the patient with embedded radioactive material and depleted uranium.
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