Hall 14 - Radiologic Terrorism

Question 1

What is a dirty bomb?

Answer 1

Conventional explosive material attached to a small amount of radioactive material

Question 2

What is the greatest source of fatalities after detonation of a nuclear weapon?

Answer 2

Delayed effect of fallout (Na-24 has 15 hr half-life)

Question 3

How should you triage patients after radiologic terrorism exposure?

Answer 3

Based on presumed dose received - determined by:
- How close they were to the radioactive event
- Symptoms
- Contamination

Question 4

What is radiation contamination?

Answer 4

Radiation source physically in contact with the patient (on skin or internally)

Question 5

How do you respond to external radiation contamination?

Answer 5

1. Remove clothing
2. Use Geiger counter to survey the patient
3. Decontaminate open wounds first (irrigate)
4. Decontaminate nose/mouth
5. Decontaminate intact skin
6. Continue until readings are <2x background or further efforts do not decrease radiation levels

Question 6

How do you respond to internal radiation contamination?

Answer 6

Potassium iodide (if given within 4-6 hours) - saturates binding sites in thyroid and prevents incorporation of radioactive iodine (a fission product)

Prussian blue - blocks uptake of Cs-137 from GI tract