-
Take action to limit or stop the release of more radioactive
material if possible, but delay cleanup attempts until
radiation protection technicians are on the scene.
-
Tell nearby hospitals to expect the arrival of radioactively
contaminated and injured people.
Everyone near the scene should be checked for radioactive
contamination. As soon as you can obtain radiation measuring
equipment, establish a decontamination area for this purpose.
Decontaminate people whose injuries are not life threatening
(broken arms, etc.) before sending them to hospitals. Do
not send people without physical injuries to hospitals.
Record keeping is as important for the long-term health of
the victims as it is for the emergency responders. Use the
form which may be downloaded from the following site: www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/casualties_radioactive.htm
to record contact information for all exposed people so they
can be given medical examinations later. The Department of
Health and Human Services will request this information later.
For
More Help. In the event of a radiation emergency, you
should notify your state Radiation Control Program Director.
Telephone numbers for each state may be found at www.crcpd.org/Map/map.asp.
Notify the CDC Emergency Pre-paredness Branch at their 24-hour
telephone number: (777) 488-7100.
Other
Information. The North American Response Guidebook
(Publication A70-010) and its Pocket Edition (A70-010P) con-tain
supplemental information on dealing with radioactive mate-rial.
These books may be ordered from: UNZ and Co., 700 Central Avenue,
New Providence, NJ 07974; Phone: 800, 631-3098. For some important
lessons learned regarding selection and use of protecting clothing
from the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City disasters, see
Protecting Emergency Responders: Lessons Learned from Terrorist
Attacks (NIOSH Workshop Proceedings), ISBN: 0-8330-3149-X
CF-176-OSTP, at www.rand.org/publications/CF/CF176/.
UNIVERSITIES
GIVE AWAY BIOTERROR DETECTION SOFTWARE
On December 2, 2002, Carnegie Mellon University and the University
of Pittsburgh stated that software that could provide an early
warning of bioterrorist attack was being given to health organizations
free of charge. The Real-time Outbreak Disease Surveillance
software was created several years ago by the BioMedical Security
Institute, which the schools jointly operate,
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and
is available on the Internet (www.biomedsecurity.org).
Health professionals using the surveillance software enter the
patients’ symptoms, their ZIP codes, and dates of their
visits. The system can alert medical and emergency officials
of any spike in symptoms that could be related to a biological
attack.
A year before the September 11 terrorist attacks, scientists
at the universities began a project to track patterns of influenza,
E. coli infections, and illness caused by common biological
agents reported in Pittsburgh area hospitals. The goal was to
have all health systems in Pennsylvania using the software in
three years. Eventually, the system could be used nationwide.
FTA
OFFICE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY BROCHURE
The Federal Transit Administration Office of Safety and Security
has just released a new brochure, “Standard Protocols
for Managing Security Incidents Involving Surface Transportation
Vehicles.” This brochure contains information on
prevention, unknown substances and suspicious packages, and
response. For copies, contact Alison Thompson, Volpe National
Transportation Systems Center, Kendall Square, 55 Broadway,
Cambridge, MA 02142-1093, or it is available on line at http://152.122.8.162/Publications/Default.asp.
PORTLAND,
OREGON, TRANSIT OFFICERS RECEIVE COMMENDATIONS
Sergeant David Golliday, Officer Daryl Turner, Deputy Chad Phifer,
and Deputy Robert Bianchi were all commended by the Portland
Bureau of Police for their various roles in the arrest of a
group who were noticed making apparent drug deals on October
16, 2002. All of the subjects were arrested and charged with
various felonies. Congratulations to all four offi-cers.
Meetings
1/8-12/03
Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Conference, Baltimore,
MD, Environmental Protection Agency (800, 364-7974; www.2003conference.org)
1/9-10/03
Homeland Security 2002 Conference and Exhibition, Washington,
DC (703, 876-5060, or 800, 846-0099; Fex: 876-5059; www.e-gov.com)
1/11-15/03
Transportation Research Board 83rd Annual Meeting,, Washington,
DC (202, 334-2934; Fax: 334-2003)
1/12-16/03
Transportation Research Board 82nd Annual Meeting, Washington,
DC (202, 334-2934; Fax: 334-2003)
1/14/03
Substance Abuse Training Session: Regulatory Review and Best
Practices, Worcester, MA, Federal Transit Administration (617,
494-3798; (whalley@volpe.dot.gov)
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