TB 56 - Radiological Emergency Ops Flashcards
Radiation definition:
Radiation is any form of ENERGY that travels through space or matter. As the radiation travels through matter, it DEPOSITS its energy in that matter.
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) exists as both natural and manmade.
All this radiation is categorized into two basic categories, which include:
• NON-IONIZING RADIATION: Is radiation which does not have enough energy to remove electrons from atoms and molecules. (i.e. microwave ovens, radiofrequency (RF), infrared, ultraviolet (UV).)
• IONIZING RADIATION: Is a form of energy that acts by removing ELECTRONS from atoms and molecules of materials that include air, water, and living tissue. (poses largest threat to us)
What are the four basic types of IONIZING radiation?
-Alpha
-Beta
-Gamma
-Neutron
Alpha radiation:
- Highly energetic particles that can only travel a few ______ in air.
- They have very low penetrating power and can be stopped by a _______.
- Particles generally only pose health effects if ______.
- centimeters
- sheet of paper
- inhaled or ingested
(Alpha Radiation: Think Sawdust)
Beta Radiation:
- highly energetic, fast moving, charged particles which can be stopped by _______.
- Particles can penetrate the skin, cause skin burns and are most hazardous when _______.
- a layer of clothing or a few millimeters of a solid material.
- Inhaled or ingested.
(Beta Radiation: Think of Sawdust blowing in the wind)
Gamma Radiation:
High energy, short wavelength, electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus of an atom (Think of a focused ray of light from a flashlight).
Gamma rays are very penetrating and best stopped or shielded by?
Dense material such as lead.
Neutron radiation:
Found within an atom’s nucleus. Can travel great distances in air.
The best way to protect against neutron radiation is by?
providing shielding with thick, heavy materials such as lead or concrete.
A _______ is an ACCIDENTAL or INTENTIONAL ACT (TERRORISM) that caused a release of a large quantity of a radioactive material from a facility or transportation accident.
Radiological materials release (RMR)
What are the three main types of radiological WMD devices?
- Radiation Exposure Device (RED)
- Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)
- Nuclear Device
What Radiological WMD device?
______ is a containerized radioactive material that directly exposes the public to radiation but DOES NOT RELEASE CONTAMINATION.
Radiation Exposure Device (RED)
What Radiological WMD device?
A ______ is the deliberate release of radioactive material by explosives, by contamination of a water or ventilation system, or by a release into the environment.
Contamination could take months to years to mitigate.
Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)
What Radiological WMD device?
______ is an illicit weapon that is acquired or fabricated by a terrorist group that can produce a nuclear explosion. (lowest probability, but highest consequences)
Nuclear Device
Protective actions in response to a radiological incident are designed to minimize the __________.
projected radiation dose to responders and the civilian population
Radiation Exposure or Contamination?
Radioactive ________ occurs when radioactive particles are deposited on a person’s skin and can be absorbed through the skin or by inhalation or ingestion.
-Contamination
(A person EXPOSED to a medical Xray receives direct radiation, but the human body is not radioactively contaminated)
Measuring Radiation:
Radiological exposure, or the amount of radiation energy in the air that may reach the body is measured in ______.
-Roentgen (R)
Since this exposure measurement is also based on time concepts, radiation is also measured in R/hr or rem/hr.
Measuring Radiation:
The total accumulated amount of radiation absorbed by the body over a given time is measured as the ______.
This measurement based on a concept of time is called the ________.
-dose
-dose rate
- μR/hr is Micro R (or 1/_______th of 1 R).
- mR/hr is Milli R (or 1/1,000th of 1 R).
- R/hr is rem per hour (or 1 R/hr).
1,000,000
To put radiation doses in perspective, in general, the average daily dose of an average American ranges from ___ to ____ mR due to Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), while an average chest X-ray dose is about 5 mR.
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