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Medical Emergency Response to Radiologic Incidents
Posted: August 19th, 2004
Source: Carol S. Marcus, PhD, MD Prof. of Radiation Oncology and of Radiological Sciences, UCLA - California Disaster Medical Assistance Team-9 (DMAT CA-9) - Western National Medical Response Team (WNMRT) - and Los Angeles County Dept. of Health Services Emergency Medical Services Agency
The possibility of radiologic accidents involving unsealed radioactive material is always present where radioactive materials are used. Such incidents are relatively unusual in the United States, where we take significant care to avoid them. When they do occur, they usually affect one or a few radiation workers, often in a controlled environment in which sophisticated expertise, materials and equipment are available for diagnosis and treatment. For this reason, most American physicians, including nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists, and emergency medicine physicians, have little or no education or experience with the medical management of internally contaminated individuals.
The possibility of terrorist acts involving radioactive material means that physicians who normally would never have occasion to treat internally contaminated patients might be called upon to do so. The purpose of this presentation is to review the detailed use of a number of drugs and procedures that will eliminate some or most internal radioactive contamination from the body.
Please see the .pdf file below for the full text on this issue.
