Key Points

•Emphasize that medical stabilization of the patients is the highest priority. Patients will not succumb immediately from radiation injury. Radiation exposure and contamination are not immediately life threatening nor are contamination levels or exposure levels of significant hazard to personnel.

•Training and drills are the best preparation to ensure competence and confidence by the the ED and other staff identified in the Emergency Plan.

•Pre-plan to ensure that adequate supplies and survey instruments are available. Identify non-ED staff that can assist. Staff from Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Oncology and Radiation Safety have expertise in radiation protection practices and the use of survey meters.

•The staff can protect themselves from radioactive contamination by using universal precautions while treating these patients. Treating these patients is not an immediate hazard to ED staff health and the long term risks from the radiation exposure are small.

•Early symptoms and their intensity in patients are an indication of the severity of the radiation injury.

•The first 24 hours are the worst. Then you will likely have many additional resources from state and federal agencies.