RE: Dirty Bombs

[Jack_Earley@RL.GOV]

They won't have to detect it--whoever planted the bomb will tell them it's

dirty, whether or not it really is. The press won't need to know who to

contact because they already have their uninformed sources who they already

quote on a regular basis. The dose won't matter because some glory-hungry

politician is going to demand that everyone in the affected area be given KI

even though they don't understand how it's used (it's like the law of

physics that prevents contamination from crossing the roped area, or that

keeps smoke in the restaurant's smoking area). Why do you people insist on

confusing the issue with facts? :-)



Jack Earley

Radiological Engineer





-----Original Message-----

From: John Moulder [mailto:jmoulder@MCW.EDU]

Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 2:48 PM

To: radsafe-digest@list.vanderbilt.edu

Subject: Re: Dirty Bombs





In thinking about dirty bomb scenarios I am forced to make the 

following assumptions

1)  The first responders will probably not have radiation detection 

equipment or even radiation safety training.

2)  There may be a delay of hours to days before anyone realizes that 

radiation is involved

3)  Essentially 100% of the "exposed  victims" will seek medical attention

4)  The vast majority of the medical personnel that these "exposed 

victims" contact will know essentially nothing about the diagnosis 

and treatment of radiation injuries (and may not even know who to 

contact for such info).

5)  Estimates of "exposed  victim" dose will not be available fast 

enough to guide either triage or treatment.

6)  The existing national resources for dealing with radiation 

accidents will be swamped minutes to hours after radiation is known 

to have been involved

7)  Most of the press will no idea who to contact for useful 

information about radiation



Some scary questions to ask

1)  What fraction of the first responders in your metropolitan area 

would be able to detect the fact that a dirty bomb had been used?

2)  What fraction of the medical personnel in your area know who 

REAC/TS is and know how/when to contact them?

3)  What fraction of your emergency rooms have a functioning survey 

meter and someone who knows how to use it?

4)  Does the press in your area know who to contact for good info if 

a "nuclear event" either happens or is rumored to have happened?

-- 



John Moulder (jmoulder@mcw.edu)

************************************************************************

You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To unsubscribe,

send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu  Put the text "unsubscribe

radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail, with no subject line.

You can view the Radsafe archives at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/

************************************************************************

You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To unsubscribe,

send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu  Put the text "unsubscribe

radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail, with no subject line.

You can view the Radsafe archives at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/