Facility Preparation

•The hospital should activate its radiological emergency medical response plan.

•A triage area should be identified for accepting patients and the worried well.

•The plan should address contamination control for staff and facilities. There should be a call out list to obtain additional staff and equipment.

–Staff protects themselves from contamination by using universal precautions and double gloving.

–Staff should know where to obtain radiation survey meters and personnel to operate them.

–Environmental Services should establish multiple receptacles for contaminated waste.

–Call for additional support from hospital staff: Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Radiation Safety/ Health Physics.

–Plan for the decontamination of uninjured persons away from the ED.

–Protect the floor with covering if time allows.