Level of Risk to First Responders in a Radiation Emergency

• First Responders cannot be assured of a limited role or limited level of risk in widespread mass casualty incidents
• Level of risk to first responders in a radiation emergency is based on:
  • Exposure to penetrating ionizing radiation (e.g., neutrons and gamma radiation)
  • External contamination and internal contamination as a result of not wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Each community should decide in advance on an acceptable level of risk to locally-based first responders by determining if first responders will be expected to make entry into contaminated areas to:
  • Initiate/facilitate rapid victim triage and/or life- and limb-saving measures
  • Administer time-sensitive antidotes
  • Decontaminate victims
• Various state and federal government agencies and radiation control programs (e.g., IAEA , NCRP , CRCPD) have addressed level of risk to responders in radiation emergencies by proposing
  • Dose Limits for Emergency Workers
  • Radiation control zones and perimeters
• See all REMM information about Radiation Emergency Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Reference:
OSHA Best Practices for Protecting EMS Responders during Treatment and Transport of Victims of Hazardous Substance Releases (PDF - 1.46 MB) (OSHA 2009)

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