[ RadSafe ] Radiation scare tactics

[George Andrews]

Group,

That is exactly what I am doing. I am a member (volunteer) of a local Office 
of Emergency Management. The group is primarily communication support, so 
the training is tailored to the specific need. I will do two sessions a year 
to make sure I don't miss anybody. This will be repeated every year. I plan 
to make the training available to other first responders (PD, FD).

George Andrews, RRPT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Darrough" <darrougj at onid.orst.edu>
To: <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 3:53 PM
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Radiation scare tactics


> One solution is training Emergency Responders for free. Only outlay they
> then have is time to come to the training. Dr. Steve Reese, Director of 
> the
> Oregon State University Radiation Center is doing just that, with the help
> of his Staff and professional Faculty. It works. The PD and FD folks (and
> whomever else comes) seem to get a lot out of it.
>
> Regards, Jim Darrough, Oregon State University Radiation Center
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
> [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Brennan, Mike
> (DOH)
> Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 10:39 AM
> To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
> Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Radiation scare tactics
>
> Hi, Danny.
>
> A nuclear detonation is a very different animal than an RDD or more 
> mundane
> contamination, and I actually expect that first responders will rise to 
> the
> occasion.  But even with a nuke detonated at ground level, maximizing
> contamination concentrations, rad isn't going to be the biggest risk faced
> by first responders, and contamination on patients isn't likely to be the
> biggest risk to hospital staff (the biggest rad risk to the hospital is if
> it is in the plume, in which case they are just hosed.)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: McClung, Danny [mailto:Danny.McClung2 at va.gov]
> Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 10:27 AM
> To: Brennan, Mike (DOH); JOHN.RICH at sargentlundy.com;
> radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
> Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Radiation scare tactics
>
> Now think of the first respondeds reaction to a very large boom and 
> mushroom
> cloud.  How is that going to work?
>
> I say this as I sit listening to a panel discussion in DC concerning the
> saving of lives after a catastrophic event known as detonation of an IND.
> Just think about it.
>
> Danny K. McClung, BS, RRPT
> Health Physics Consultant
> Program Manager,
> Medical Emergency Radiological Response Team Office of Public Health and
> Environmental Hazards Veterans Health Administration
> 202.527.2323
> ----------------------
> Sent using BlackBerry
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
> <radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu>
> To: JOHN.RICH at sargentlundy.com <JOHN.RICH at sargentlundy.com>;
> radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
> Sent: Thu Apr 29 13:20:07 2010
> Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Radiation scare tactics
>
> Hi, John.
>
> I concur.  I am not in favor of providing first responders with
> radiation detection instruments unless their management is willing to
> commit to an ongoing training program that will teach them how to
> properly interpret what they might see (and then I'd want to see them
> commit money for several years in advance).
>
> I have talked to firemen who told me that if the "radiation meter"
> alarms they will sit back and wait until the State radiation people get
> there, no matter what is going on.  I can see a nursing home burn down
> with fire trucks fleeing the scene, because someone who had received
> I-131 the day before had left a handprint on the door (I exaggerate.
> Maybe.)  I was dismayed and amused at the level of fear demonstrated by
> people who have "enter burning building" on their job description.
>
> As for hospitals; it is almost embarrassing the way some of the policy
> makers react to the possibility of contamination.  The was one that
> spent several hundred thousand dollars for a tent and decon suite, with
> the idea that in the case of something that MIGHT be an RDD all patients
> would be deconned before being allowed into the ER.  They were
> unconvinced when it was pointed out that measures to control pathogens
> are quite effective in stopping the spread of radioactive contamination.
> The finally gave up the preemptive decon when it was pointed out that
> people would die from delayed treatment, and that the hospital would be
> sued and loose.
>
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