Re: Treatment of Contaminated Personnel

[Mike McNaughton <mcnaught@lanl.gov>]

There is a new document published by FEMA entitled "Guidelines for Public Sector Hazardous Materials Training". It is on the www at
http://www.fema.gov/emi/hmep/rgdlns.htm
(go to the pull-down menu and request "radiological response training issues".

On page 166, it states:
Emergency responders who would normally carry out immediate rescue or render emergency
medical care to any accident victims whose lives are threatened by factors other than radioactive
material should do so when radioactive material in a transportation incident is the only significant
hazardous material threat. 
<snip>
It also means that these actions would be carried out
in the absence of:
* knowledge about the condition of containers or the presence or absence of a release,
* specialized protective clothing and respiratory protection (although skin and respiratory
protection should be worn if immediately available), and
* specialized radiological dosimeters and monitoring gear (although such gear should be
used if immediately available).
Only if it were known that radiation exposure exceeding accepted guidelines would occur would respond-ers
consider withholding lifesaving care (see EPA Manual of Protective Action Guides and Protective
Actions for Nuclear Incidents [EPA 400-R-92-001] for current guidelines) .
<snip>
The concern addressed by this recommendation is that accident victims may die because of unwillingness
to expose responders to a risk that is actually lower than that already taken in simply coming to the accident
scene. If this recommendation is adopted, the above rationale should be presented clearly in training.
"Shlala gashle" (Zulu greeting, meaning "Stay safe")
mike (mcnaught@LANL.GOV)