epr-method (2003) - IAEA Publications - International Atomic Energy ...

Detection of medical symptoms of radiation exposure
Description
Symptoms of radiation exposure are diagnosed or suspected and the source of the exposure is unknown. The physician
should consider the possibility of radiation induced injures when facing burns without an apparent cause, suspicions
expressed by the patient that some ‘object’ was making them sick, the patient being in a profession where there is an
increased risk of encountering a dangerous source (e.g. scrap metal dealer).
Potential hazards
The patient could be suffering from radiation injuries warranting specialized treatment. This could indicate a public
contamination/exposure emergency and the source of exposure or contamination that could continue to represent a
severe hazard unknown to those in the vicinity.
There is little or no health hazard to the medical staff treating or transporting exposed or contaminated people provided
they protect themselves from inadvertent ingestion of contamination by use of the normal barrier methods (e.g. gloves)
used to protect against infectious agents.
Emergency response
Diagnosing medical professional:
— Prevent inadvertent ingestion of contamination (e.g. wear gloves, do not smoke or eat).
— Perform life saving measures and provide first aid for serious injuries immediately, before
conducting radiological monitoring.
— Keep people away from any potential source of exposure (at least 10 m from the public).
— Arrange to transport seriously injured people to local medical facility. If they may be contaminated,
wrap them in a blanket to control the spread of contamination. Tell those transporting the victim
and the receiving medical facility that the person may be contaminated and that the risk to those
treating such a patient is negligible but care should be taken to prevent inadvertent ingestion of
contamination.
— Identify and register potentially exposed/contaminated individuals, gather information that could be
useful in reconstructing their dose to include medical symptoms and description of events.
— Report to appropriate officials and obtain instructions (see Elements A3.1, A8.1).
— Remain in the area until monitored.
Incident commander (lead first responder local official):
— Co-ordinate the response using the ICS (see Appendix 13) from an incident command post near the
scene. If illicit trafficking or criminal act is suspected, notify and incorporate law enforcement in
the response under the ICS.
— Continue actions listed above
— Isolate potential sources of exposure in accordance with Table A5-1
— Obtain radiological assessment assistance to co-ordinate radiological response in accordance with
Ref. [11].
— Obtain emergency medical assistance to co-ordinate the medical response.
— If the emergency receives media or public attention obtain public information officer (see Element
A9.1) 75 to keep the public informed.
— Ensure that all governmental agencies are informed.
— Monitor public response and deal with inappropriate behaviour (see Element A11.2).
— If terrorism is indicated, implement, as appropriate, the action guide for Credible or confirmed
75 If the public announcement is delayed, prepare public information and a spokesperson to be used when the news of
the emergency reaches the media and public.
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