Re: First Responders and Radiological Emergencies

["Gerry Blackwood" <gpblackwood@justice.com>]

I had a opportunity to run into two NYPD ESU (Emergency

Services Unit) Cops part of the Hercules Unit

yesterday. We had a chat about their Rad Action Levels

and Training. The Action Level for the Unit is

somewhere between 100-150 mrem. But they both noted

that there was nothing "concrete" on those levels and

there was a lot of disagreement and confusion over

sustainable levels by their "instructors". Both seemed

familiar with background noise.



Most of the units training is with regard to

"preserving evidence" in an RDD aftermath and is

provided in conjunction with those knowledgeable people

at DoJ. While NYFD Hazmat is more concerned with

rescue. Both Units are very limited in numbers and we

know what will happen in the free-for-all that will

occur when an event happens. Both ESU Cops noted that

the Hercules Team has a "chemist" and a "scientist, who

has some knowledge in radiation" as advisors but not a

Radiation Specialist and there is very limited

oversight in the immediate hour(s) if an event occurs.

Most of this would come from the USG if an event

occurs. 



We all know what response times look like and while

this does not surprise me, it does tick me off. Yes,

DOE and NEST are pros at this, but its about the

immediate response time until the USG gets on the

ground. Someone from the NY State needs to look into

this. There is absolutely "NO" reason why local

responders should not have "immediate" radiation

support by a radiation specialist and or a true health

physicist not some "scientist" with some radiation

knowledge, pre planned into any action plans. God knows

there are enough of with this expertise floating

around. WTF Over?



Gerry Blackwood



_________________________________________________

FindLaw - Free Case Law, Jobs, Library, Community

http://www.FindLaw.com

Get your FREE @JUSTICE.COM email!

http://mail.Justice.com

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

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/