Re: Treatment of Contaminated Personnel

["Warren Church" <Warren_Church@uml.edu>]

We identified a similar problem during our annual exercise at out research
reactor.  The scenario involved a worker who had a severe head injury and
was also contaminated with microcurie ammounts of Na-24. Outside safety
officials and campus police questioned us allowing the EMTs into the
contaminated area.  (There is a emphasis in first responder training theses
days not to place the FRs in harms way in their rescue efforts-two victims
instead of one.)  As we know much of the public views any radioactive
contamination, especially if its in a reactor, as a very hazardous
situation.  In our EPlan training to outside responders we try to emphasize
that the contamination in more of a nuisance interms of its cleanup and in
most cases represents little if any hazard and should not be a factor when
responding to any injured victims. The training must be done in such a way
as to make sure the FRs will rely on appropriate emergency team personnel to
evaluate any radiological hazards and whether it is safe to enter.  BTW for
security reasons FR must be escorted into the reactor by reactor personnel
anyway.
NCRP 65 gives some guidance on response to accidents when contamination is
involved.

Warren_Church@uml.edu

Jim Casto wrote:

> Radsafers,
> Can anyone please direct me to where guidance documents or such can be
> reviewed regarding emergency medical treatment of personnel who are
> also contaminated. We were challenged on this recently during a
> training class where we indicated that emergency
> medical treatment of contaminated personnel should have priorty over
> concern for potential contamination of emergency responders. What
> what would be most helpful are guidance documents for non-health
> physics types (e.g., EMTs, hospital personnel, fire,etc), which I
> can use as a reference.  Our university uses almost exclusively
> low to medium level beta emitters  in typical wet chemistry lab
> operations-our most likely scenario for contamination.
> Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
>
> -Jim Casto
> ----------------------
> Jim Casto
> Radiation Safety Officer
> Department of Environmental Health & Safety
> University of California
> Santa Barbara, CA. 93106
> (805) 893-3588
> (805) 893-8659 fax
> Jim.Casto@ehs.ucsb.edu
>
> ************************************************************************
> The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
> information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html



************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html