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Emergency handling of radiation exposure or radioactive contamination cases should not be feared. The handling of these cases is a matter involving common sense, cleanliness and good housekeeping. Radiation
can be detected and measured by a simple instrument--a survey meter.
Radiation
accident problems have parallels in other conditions handled more frequently
by University Police and Ambulance personnel.
Since you may become involved with such accidents, there are
a few things you should know about radiation.
There are four types of radiation accident patients. The individual who has received whole or partial body external radiation may have received a lethal dose of radiation but he is no hazard to rescue personnel or the environment. He is no different than the patient that has just received diagnostic x-rays or radiation therapy.
Another type is the individual who has received internal contamination by inhalation or ingestion. He also is no hazard to rescue personnel or the environment. However, the environment may be a hazard if the radioactive particles are still airborne in the work area. Following cleansing of minor amounts of contaminated material deposited on the body surface during airborne exposure, he is similar to the chemical poisoning case. All body wastes should be collected and saved for measurements of the amount of radiation to assist the hospital in determining appropriate therapy.
External
contamination of body surface and/or clothing by radioactive liquids
or dirt particles presents a third type, with problems similar to vermin
infestation. Surgical
isolation technique to protect rescue personnel and cleansing to protect
the environment must be taken to confine and remove a potential hazard.
When external contamination is complicated by a wound, care must be taken not to cross-contaminate surrounding surfaces. The wound and surrounding surfaces are cleansed separately and sealed off when clean. When crushed dirty tissue is involved, early wet cleansing following wound irrigation may be indicated. Further cleansing, debridement, and definite therapy can await sophisticated measurement and hospital care.
To
properly deal with radiation accidents, many experts may be necessary.
The
initial emergency work performed on campus by law enforcement officers,
safety personnel, and ambulance personnel will be supplemented later
by physicians, nurses, Health Department personnel and other specialists
when the patient is received at the hospital. To assure continuity
in the flow of work, it is necessary that each specialist knows what
is expected of him as well as a general familiarity of what is expected
of others during the radiation emergency.
It is the responsibility of rescue personnel to:
For the patient:
1.
Give life saving emergency assistance if needed.
2. Secure
pertinent information including estimate of radiation exposure from
those present at the scene.
3. Determine
if physical injury or open wounds are involved. Cover wounds with clean
dressings; use elastic bandage to hold wound covers in place; do not
use adhesive tape.
4. Cover
stretcher, including pillow, with open blanket; wrap patient to limit
spread of contamination.
5. Notify
hospital by radio or telephone of available information before arrival
at the hospital.
For
rescue personnel:
1. To
have performed surveys of clothing, ambulance, etc., before undertaking
further assignments.
2. If
contaminated, place clothing in plastic bag and store in container marked
"Radioactive Do Not Discard." A container is located in Building
133, the radiation section. Cleanse
self by washing in appropriate sinks marked for radioactive use. (If
no marked sink is near, use any sink and then label for later contamination
survey).
3. If
in contaminated area, all personnel must be surveyed by radiation survey
meter; measurements must be recorded. Survey meters are available in
most labs where radioactive materials are used and in Room 506 or 507
of Science Building II. Cleansing
must continue until the Radiation Safety Officer or responsible physician
indicates person is "clean" and may leave.
In
addition, University Police and/or Safety personnel must be responsible
for carrying out the following procedures:
1. If
notified of an emergency involving either radioactive material or the
exposure of people to radiation from sources such as radioactive material
or X-rays, immediately verify the location and nature of the event,
and whether or not people may have been injured or exposed to radioactivity.
Then report the facts to the Safety Coordinator and the Radiation
Safety Officer. In cases of emergency when the above two people cannot
be reached, the incident should be reported to the Broome County Health
Department.
2. University
Police and Safety officers are briefed annually by the Radiation Safety
Officer and must know where alpha and beta-gamma radiation monitoring
equipment is located. It is
necessary that monitoring equipment accompany the patient to the hospital
since most hospitals are not equipped with radiation monitoring equipment.
Additional equipment, other than that located on campus, may be obtained
from the Broome County Civil Defense office.
3. When
called to the scene of an accident and the presence of radioactive material
is known or suspected, the names and addresses of all people located
in the immediate area affected must be obtained. In addition, the names
and addresses of all rescue personnel must be recorded for further survey
follow up to assure that all personnel are "clean" of radioactive
contamination.
4. When
ambulance personnel arrive, they must be informed of the known or suspected
presence of radioactive material.
5. If
it is necessary for University Police officers to transport the patient
in a patrol vehicle, the patient must be wrapped in a blanket to prevent
the spread of radioactive material contamination onto the transporting
vehicle and onto those persons handling the injured. The vehicle must
be surveyed after use.
6. Keep
bystanders away from the incident area. Detour vehicular and
pedestrian traffic as for a major fire.
Permit access only to those persons identified with an emergency
organization--Harpur's Ferry, Civil Defense, Health Department, etc.
and to those who can prove that they have an official responsibility
for the site, buildings, equipment or material affected by the emergency.
Remember, the names and addresses of all personnel exposed to
the radioactive material must be recorded.
7. If
it is known or believed that a radioactive material container has been
damaged, it must be assumed that some radioactive material has been
released and personnel and property have been contaminated.
8. University
Police and Safety officers can determine that:
a) There is or is not alpha, beta, or gamma radiation present.
b) The radiation is low level (e.g. the readings do not exceed the maximum range of the survey meter on lowest scale).
c) The radiation is moderate level (exceeds range of meter on lowest scale).
d) The radioactive material is or is not scattered around the area and has or has not contaminated shoes, clothing, uncovered head, arms, legs, equipment, corridors or vehicles. Additional
information helpful for rescue personnel: Associate
Director, Health & Safety
Radiological
Safety Committee: Broome
County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health
Broome
County Office of Emergency Services
NYS
Department of Health Alpha Survey Meter - SC II, 507 or 506 Beta-Gamma Survey Meter - SC II, 507 or 506 Contaminated
waste-can location: |
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