nuclear/radiologic agents Flashcards
objectives
-Explain the concepts of ionizing radiation and its
sources, properties, and units of measure.
-Recognize potential radiological/nuclear WMDs and
understand the scope and consequences of a
radiological/nuclear accident or terrorist incident
-Describe the recognition indicators and notification
requirements of a First Responder during a
radiological/nuclear WMD incident.
-To identify and initiate awareness level protective actions
at the scene to reduce radiation exposure and/or
contamination to themselves and others.
bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki
-more than 200,000 deaths
radiation
- energy emitted in the form of rays or particles
- found in radioactive material
- radioactive material is unstable
- as the substance decays it gives off radiation
sources of radiologic material
- thousands of radioactive material are generally used to benefit humankind
- once it has been used for its purpose, the leftover material is called radiologic waste
- remains active but is no longer useful
atom structure
- atoms are made up of:
- Nucleus -Protons (P) and neutrons (N)
- Electrons (e)
- Protons- Number defines the element
- Neutrons– Number defines the isotope
- Electrons– Number determines the chemical properties of the element
radioactive atoms
Atoms are either stable or unstable -Stable – balanced -Unstable - unbalanced (radioactive) o Excess internal energy o Radioactive/radionuclide o Excess of neutrons or protons
radioactive materials (RAMs)
- any material containing unstable (radioactive) atoms:
- solids
- liquids
- gases
fissile material
- radioactive material (RAM)
- capable of nuclear fission (being split)
- four types of uranium and plutonium are designated as fissile material for transportation purposes U-233 and U-235, Pu-239 and Pu-241
special nuclear material
- special nuclear material- mildly radioactive, but in concentrated form, can be used as the ingredients of nuclear explosives
- (Uranium-235 [U-235]), Plutonium-239 [Pu-239])
- radioactive material (RAM)
radiation
-non-ionizing and ionizing
non ionizing
- radio wave
- microwave
- infrared
- radar
ionizing
- alpha
- beta
- gamma/x-ray
- neutron
energy emitted from a strong radiologic source has four categories
- alpha
- beta
- gamma (x-rays)
- neutron radiation
alpha radiation
-range in air is 1-2 inches
beta radiation
- range in air is up to 30 feet
- most beta travels 10 feet or less
gamma radiation
range in air is 100s of feet
two types of background radiation
- natural
- man made
natural background
->Cosmic
-Sun and outer space
-Differences in elevation
-Atmospheric conditions
-Earth’s magnetic field
• Average dose for cosmic radiation is 33 millirem/year
->Terrestrial
-rocks, soil, and sand
-radium, uranium, thorium, and potassium
-radon
chronic dose is better than huge dose of radiation
-true
radon
- Responsible for most of the dose that
- Americans receive each year
- Odorless, tasteless, and invisible
- Decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water
- Ionizing radiation
- Found in outdoor air and indoor air in buildings
man made radiation
- dental x-rays
- CT scan
- nuclear medicine
- particle accelerator
- industrial and commercial
- consume products- smoke detector, glazed tiles
radiation measurements
- exposure
- dose
- contamination
- R- roentgen
- exposure- measure of ionization in air
- exposure rate- measure of ionization produce in air per unit of time
Rad
-radiation absorbed rate
rem
-roentgen equivalent man
dose
-measured in rem
dose rate
-measured in rem/hr
Internation system of units (SI)
- the radiation units that are used may vary based of the discipline
- response
- medical national
- international- border states may encounter SI units as part of federal repsonse
exposure types: external exposures
-Radioactive source outside the body
-External exposure does not always result in contamination
-The person is exposed to X-rays via penetration but is
not contaminated by the radioactive source
exposure types: internal exposure
- Found in the human body
- Water and organic matter
- Ingested with food and water
- Radeon inhale
contamination
- radioactive material is on a persons body or clothing and is emitting energy in the form of alpha, beta, gamma, and or neutron particles
- must be on the person
- scans do not contaminate the person
contamination: decontamination
-Washing, brushing, or using tape to clean exposed areas removes contaminants and reduces exposure. -Brushing is most applicable for removal of fallout. -Most hazardous particles are like fine sand-sized grains. -removal of clothing* biggest factor
exposure pathways
- inhalation
- ingestion
- absorption
- injection
how does radiation affect the body
- low exposure- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache
- moderate exposure- first degree burns, hair loss, compromised immune system (death of white blood cells), and cancer
- severe exposure- second and third degree burns, cancer, and death
acute radiation dose
- burns
- cells dont have time to recover
- burns from chemicals not so much radiological burns
- radiological burns take a bit longer
chronic radiation dose.
- body has time to recover and replace cells
- cancer
- more susceptible to infection
protective measures
- time
- distance
- shielding
response: gear
- level C protective gear
- level C equivalent: bunker gear (firefighter gear)
devices
- Some radiation measuring devices include RadAlert50 (mR/h range), Ludlum (Rem/h range), or Canberra mini radiac (mR/h and Rem/h)
- do not need to know the names
radiologic dispersal devices (RDD)
-Any container designed to disperse radioactive material
-Generally, requires a bomb (dirty bomb)
-Has potential to injure with both
radioactive material and explosives
-Destructive capability is limited by explosives that are attached to it.
-not readily available -> not the best weapon for mass destruction bc you cant have a lot
-mostly just used for fear
dirty bomb
- doesn’t have nuclear fission- > no explosion
- just spread radiation
radiologic exposure devices (RED)
- targets specific population or person
- may be hidden in public
- exposes people to radiation
- hidden sealed sources
radiological incendiary device (RED)
-dirty fire
improvised nuclear device (IND)
- panic
- fear
- big scale
- explosive
- spreads radiation
- used by terrorists
incident command procedures for radiological emergency
- life hazard
- level of radiation
- other hazards
- risk versus benefit
- 50 rem- lifesaving for a catastrophic event
- 25 rem- lifesaving or protection of large populations
- 10 rem- protection of major property
- 5 rem- general operations at a radiological emergency
managing life hazards
- isolate
- contain
- evacuate- area surrounding too
- decontaminate
- emergency medical care
decontamination corridor
- emergency medical care
- how should EMS personnel approach life threatening illness
- in the warm zone
- triage
hot zone
-hazardous material
warm zone
-decontamination corridor
cold zone
- incident commander
- command post
special considerations
-Additional resources, mutual aid?
-Optimization of triage and treatment strategy?
-Hospital notification, Department of Health, Poison
Control Center
-Alternate modes of patient transportation?
-Transport of contaminated patients?
-Decontamination of personnel/members of service
(MOS)
-Monitoring and report of absorbed total radiation
dose of personnel/MO
