disaster 5th 1108_5th ed 2011 - Homeland Security and Emergency ...
disaster 5th 1108_5th ed 2011 - Homeland Security and Emergency ...
disaster 5th 1108_5th ed 2011 - Homeland Security and Emergency ...
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tests to determine if you were expos<strong>ed</strong> <strong>and</strong> what to do to<br />
protect your health if radioactive materials are found.<br />
• Learn if KI (potassium iodide) is being pass<strong>ed</strong> out by<br />
authorities <strong>and</strong>, if so, find out where to get it. Or ask if<br />
you should take KI if in your Disaster Supplies Kit (more<br />
about KI on page 73). Dirty bombs don’t normally have<br />
radioactive iodide so KI may not be ne<strong>ed</strong><strong>ed</strong>.<br />
As long as you are NOT told to evacuate:<br />
Stay put – Stay inside <strong>and</strong> prepare to “shelter-in-place”!<br />
• Close doors, windows, vents <strong>and</strong> fireplace damper.<br />
• Turn off air conditioner, ventilation fans, furnace <strong>and</strong><br />
other intakes (they pull in air from outside).<br />
• Grab Disaster Supplies Kit <strong>and</strong> go to a basement or<br />
underground area (if possible).<br />
• Keep a battery-operat<strong>ed</strong> radio with you to hear updates.<br />
• Stay inside until authorities tell you it is safe to go out!<br />
Clean up - If you were possibly expos<strong>ed</strong> to radiation (or chemicals)...<br />
• store clothes & shoes - put clothing <strong>and</strong> shoes in tightly<br />
seal<strong>ed</strong> containers or plastic bags <strong>and</strong> ask health officials<br />
what to do with them<br />
• shower - wash body <strong>and</strong> hair to remove particles / toxins<br />
Will I get radiation sickness or cancer... - Just because you were at the site<br />
of a dirty bomb does not mean you were expos<strong>ed</strong> to radioactive materials.<br />
Radiation cannot be seen, smell<strong>ed</strong>, felt, or tast<strong>ed</strong>. Until doctors are able to<br />
check skin with sensitive detection devices or run blood tests to determine<br />
there was any radiation - no one really knows if they were expos<strong>ed</strong> (unless<br />
you have your own detection devices - see page 112). And, even if you were<br />
expos<strong>ed</strong> to small amounts of radioactive material, it does not mean you’ll<br />
be sick or get cancer. Stay calm -- listen to <strong>and</strong> work with m<strong>ed</strong>ical health<br />
professionals since it depends on each situation or incident.<br />
For the CDC’s information on “acute radiation syndrome” (radiation<br />
sickness) visit www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/ars.asp<br />
For more information about radiological emergencies or radiation<br />
emergencies, visit the CDC’s <strong>Emergency</strong> Prepar<strong>ed</strong>ness & Response site at<br />
www.bt.cdc.gov or visit Health Canada’s Emergencies & Disasters site at<br />
www.hc-sc.gc.ca<br />
108 www.itsa<strong>disaster</strong>.net or call 1-888-999-4325
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