Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Module Seven
Radiation Emergencies - Administration Page
The concept of terrorists using radiation as a weapon is extremely concerning. Ionizing or
“nuclear” radiation has the clear potential to “terrify” the public as it is associated in the public
mind with the destructive force of nuclear weapons, it is invisible and acutely undetectable to the
senses, and is associated with the “dread of cancer”; with other effects not well understood by
general public. Clinicians can play a vital role in minimizing fear and panic.
Several potential scenarios involving the use of radiation by terrorists include the surreptitious
placement of a radiation source, the stealth dispersal of radioactive material, an explosive
radiation dispersal device (“dirty bomb”), a deliberate attack on a nuclear power plant, or the
detonation of a nuclear weapon.
Medical personnel may be called upon to care for patients who have been exposed to high
levels of radiation or who have been contaminated with radioactive materials. Some of these
patients may be gravely ill with radiation sickness or may have radiation burns, while others may
have no radiological medical problems other than minor skin contamination. It is essential that
medical personnel be able to recognize radiation injury and provide appropriate treatment. It is
also essential that medical personnel understand that patients who are merely contaminated
may be treated without risk of radiation injury to the medical staff, although contamination
control measures may be prudent if the medical condition permits.
Acute radiation syndrome is a constellation of signs and symptoms that develop after total body
irradiation. The initial signs and symptoms of radiation illness are nonspecific, and could be
misdiagnosed as a viral syndrome, or gastroenteritis. It is important in triage to attempt to
ascertain the time interval between a person’s acute radiation exposure and the onset of
gastrointestinal signs and symptoms. Individuals who become symptomatic in less than 4 hours,
and certainly in less than 2 hours after exposure are likely to have absorbed a lethal dose of
radiation and cannot be saved. In a mass casualty incident, they might have to be triaged to
palliative care rather than intensive supportive care.
Duration
45 minutes
Scope Statement
This module presents the major potential scenarios involving the release of radiation by
terrorists and reviews the basic fundamentals of radiation biology and concepts of exposure,
contamination and containment. Decontamination and treatment strategies are presented for
managing victims of radiation exposure.
Terminal Learning Objective (TLO)
• Understand the concepts of radiation poisoning to assess and provide
clinical care to patients who have been exposed to or contaminated
with radioactive material.
December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 357