Re: Educating the Public - need Radsafers help

[john grant <grantjoh@pacbell.net>]

Seems like 3 weeks on radiation hazzards and 6 weeks on ALL other hazzards is very

much out of balance.  How about one week on radiation and 8 weeks on the other

hazzards?



Tony Hedges wrote:



> Radsafers,

> I am teaching an on-line course for RIT titled Man-Made Hazards. The 10-week

> course is a science elective for students enrolled in general studies and is a

> part of RIT’s Emergency Management Certificate program. My students consist of

> college students fresh out of high school, adults returning to complete their

> degrees after a number of years and emergency responders (EMT’s, fire fighters

> and police) trying to get the certificate. The first six weeks of the course

> are spent on the typical chemical hazards that can be found on public highways.

> The last three weeks are spent in radiation related topics including the

> operation of nuclear power plants. The course has been part of RITs curriculum

> for over ten years. It is offered in the Fall and Winter quarter every year.

>

> Here is where I need Radsafer’s help. I would like to give the students the

> address to Radsafe and have them subscribe and post any questions they may have

> about radiation and nuclear power. They wouldn’t be asking for help with their

> homework ;-), but would post to learn more about radiation and its effects. So

> why am I asking? I have been a member of Radsafe for a very long time and I

> have witnessed some withering responses to questions from laymen on the list.

> Including the responses to the anti-nuclear folks.

>

> Want to educate the public? Here is your chance. I usually gain the trust of my

> students for my factually responses to their questions about chemical and

> radiation related hazards. I try to expose them to as much information as I can

> so that they can make an educated decision about the risks. I want to include

> Radsafe as part of their reading. I also include several anti-nuclear sites so

> they can see both sides of the issue. Norm - if you want to send me your top

> picks of web sites, do so and I will include them in their reading material.

>

> Are Radsafers up to answering questions from laymen? From students seeking

> knowledge on radiation and the risks associated with its use?

>

> BTW during the class I post events that occur on a daily basis. I post all the

> radiation-related events that get posted to the NRCs web site and a number of

> fire and chemical events from other sources. We use the events as part of our

> discussions on hazardous materials during the ten weeks. The students begin to

> notice trends: the large number of stolen, lost or damaged gauges and the

> problems that happen at facilities that handle radioactive material. They

> frequently comment about the lack of coverage in the media to these types of

> events. They begin to realize that nuclear power plant events where a couple of

> workers receive a couple mrem is not significant compared to lost radioactive

> material or medical misadministrations in the Rem.

>

> Your thoughts?

>

> Tony

>

> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

> Tony Hedges

> RPT Instructor

> thedges1@twcny.rr.com

> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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