TB 56 - Radiological Emergency Ops Flashcards

1
Q

Radiation definition:

A

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.

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2
Q

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) exists as both natural and manmade.

All this radiation is categorized into two basic categories, which include:

A

• 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)

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3
Q

What are the four basic types of IONIZING radiation?

A

-Alpha
-Beta
-Gamma
-Neutron

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4
Q

Alpha radiation:

  1. Highly energetic particles that can only travel a few ______ in air.
  2. They have very low penetrating power and can be stopped by a _______.
  3. Particles generally only pose health effects if ______.
A
  1. centimeters
  2. sheet of paper
  3. inhaled or ingested

(Alpha Radiation: Think Sawdust)

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5
Q

Beta Radiation:

  1. highly energetic, fast moving, charged particles which can be stopped by _______.
  2. Particles can penetrate the skin, cause skin burns and are most hazardous when _______.
A
  1. a layer of clothing or a few millimeters of a solid material.
  2. Inhaled or ingested.

(Beta Radiation: Think of Sawdust blowing in the wind)

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6
Q

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?

A

Dense material such as lead.

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7
Q

Neutron radiation:

Found within an atom’s nucleus. Can travel great distances in air.

The best way to protect against neutron radiation is by?

A

providing shielding with thick, heavy materials such as lead or concrete.

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8
Q

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.

A

Radiological materials release (RMR)

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9
Q

What are the three main types of radiological WMD devices?

A
  1. Radiation Exposure Device (RED)
  2. Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)
  3. Nuclear Device
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10
Q

What Radiological WMD device?

______ is a containerized radioactive material that directly exposes the public to radiation but DOES NOT RELEASE CONTAMINATION.

A

Radiation Exposure Device (RED)

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11
Q

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.

A

Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)

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12
Q

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)

A

Nuclear Device

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13
Q

Protective actions in response to a radiological incident are designed to minimize the __________.

A

projected radiation dose to responders and the civilian population

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14
Q

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.

A

-Contamination

(A person EXPOSED to a medical Xray receives direct radiation, but the human body is not radioactively contaminated)

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15
Q

Measuring Radiation:

Radiological exposure, or the amount of radiation energy in the air that may reach the body is measured in ______.

A

-Roentgen (R)

Since this exposure measurement is also based on time concepts, radiation is also measured in R/hr or rem/hr.

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16
Q

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 ________.

A

-dose

-dose rate

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17
Q
  • 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).
A

1,000,000

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18
Q

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.

A

1 to 2

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19
Q

Exposure Limit Chart:

A
20
Q

Radiation doses should be kept to a level that is “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” (ALARA). Minimizing doses consistent with the ALARA concept can be done by:

A

-Minimizing TIME spent in radiation area
-Maximizing DISTANCE from radiation
-SHIELDING from radiation (a wall, may include PPE, etc)

21
Q

Distancing from radiation should be understood in the context of the “INVERSE SQUARE LAW”:

The inverse square law states that by halving the distance to the suspected radioactive source you will increase the dose rate ____ times.

A

4 times (or quadruple the rate)

22
Q

In order to deal with the tactical priorities of _______ and ________, commanders shall determine whether to give an order to evacuate or shelter-in-place.

A

-Loss limiting
-Victim/occupant stabilization

23
Q

The downside to an evacuation is that incident managers generally have to secure a location to house the people who they evacuate.

Therefore, it is generally BEST PRACTICE in escalating incidents to _________.

A

shelter-in-place

(going indoors, listening to official news broadcasts or Emergency Alert System (EAS) radio, closing all windows and doors, closing exterior vents, and turning off heating and air conditioning equipment that uses outside air)

24
Q

it is a policy of the LAFD that a member’s accumulated dose for one single incident not be more than _____ rem in a 24-hour period.

Additionally, these rems shall account for a lifetime’s maximum dose.

A

25 rems

25
Q

According to the EPA, guidelines assume that doses acquired in response to a radiological incident would be a “ONCE IN A LIFETIME” incident.

In general, risks to a responders’ health due to radiation are _____.

A

Low

26
Q

Radiological Incident Management and Tactical Operations for Initial Responders:

A

Step 1: Safe ID of radiological incident using LAFD radiological meters and technologies
Step 2: Communication / Notification
Step 3: Rescue Victims and Create a Perimeter (Rescue and limiting loss)
Step 4: Provide rapid decon for civilians and responders (Emergency decon & mass decon)
Step 5: Provide rapid and safe medical treatment

27
Q

The rapid identification of a radiation incident is best accomplished by?

A

dose monitoring (wearing your Ultra/MiniRadiac or Personal Radiation Device - PRD)

28
Q

In accordance with OSHA policies/regulations, many incident types should heighten the need for members to wear their Ultra/MiniRadiacs, some of these include:

A

-Known or suspected terrorist incident.

-Known or suspected explosion.

-Unknown powders or “white powder” incident.

-Fires at radiological sites such as laboratories, medical / dental offices, research facilities, petroleum / refinery facilities, plating / metallurgy, or construction sites.

-Transportation fires / accidents with known or suspected radiological material (based on placarding).

-Response to known chemotherapy patients.

-Consider wearing radioactive monitoring devices when going into any incident in known terrorism threat related sites such as: airports, areas of mass gatherings, train / rail stations, courthouses, special events, or other target hazards.

29
Q

Methods which aid in recognition of a potential radiological incident include placarding on shipments, packing lists, transport (DOT) placarding, or fixed facility signs

Safe and accurate “dose monitoring” can be accomplished in _________ along with the use of the Canberra Mini Radiac or Ultra Radiac

A

full firefighting turnout PPE with SCBA respiratory protection

30
Q

Rapid notification of a hazmat type incident shall be notified to MFC to attach a HM Squad or HM Task Force and ________.

A

Joint Hazard Assessment Team (JHAT).

31
Q

The FIRST INDICATION that you have a radiological incident is upon reaching ________ reading. (or twice the original reading on your meter when you turned it on - in a nonhazardous environment).

A

‘twice background’

(When radiation is indicated, notify the IC.)

32
Q

The step of determining the “PERIMETER” is best accomplished at a radiation reading of ______. Use fire line tape to cordon off this area to keep others out.

When this perimeter is established this notification shall be transmitted to the IC.

A

2 mR/hr

33
Q

Decontamination involves removing radioactive particles. Removal of clothing and outer garments can minimize ____% of the external contamination.

A

90%

(States 80% in Book 37)

34
Q

The two primary types of decontamination are?

A

Wet decon - soap and water

Dry decon - removing particles with tools (fox tail brush, duct tape, lint roller, ect)

35
Q

Decontamination on a large scale is typically done at the direction and supervision of the _______.

Nonetheless, all fire companies have the ability to perform rapid decontamination of responders and civilians.

A

hazmat group supervisor and/or decon unit leader.

36
Q

Initial decontamination wash time should be between _____ and _____ in duration to ensure thorough soaking, depending on the situation and agent involved.

In EMERGENCY circumstances, the collection of the runoff water IS NOT a vital step.

A

30 seconds and three minutes

37
Q

In the early phase of a radiation release, responders must monitor victims for signs and symptoms of Acute Radiation Syndrome or sickness (ARS).

The earliest clinical signs of acute radiation syndrome are:

A

-nausea
-vomiting
-fatigue
-diarrhea.

(In extremely high doses, additional symptoms such as fever, respiratory distress, and hyper-excitability can occur)

38
Q

In a large-scale incident, patients shall be managed through adequate…..

A

-triage
-rapid decontamination
-medical and or trauma treatment
-transport to the hospital

39
Q

Radiological Placarding / Labeling:

The three types of labeling include?

A

-transportation
-package
-fixed facility

40
Q

Radioactive package label requirements include:
-Contents
-Activity
-Transport Index (TI)

Standard size of a label for a package is _____.

A

4”x4”

41
Q

Radioactive package labels will include a Transport Index (TI):

Transport Index (TI) - lists the amount of radiation at the surface of the package at _____ feet from the package.

A

3 ft

42
Q

Standard size of radiological placard on transportation vehicles is _______.

A

10” X 10”

43
Q

What are the three identifying characteristics on a placard that signify that the vehicle is transporting radioactive material?

A
  1. The word “RADIOACTIVE” or UN number to identify the specific source
  2. A trefoil pictogram
  3. A Department of Transportation (DOT) number of “7”.
44
Q

The Dosimeter (Canberra UltraRadiac and Canberra Mini Radiac)
tracks total personal dose via a _______.

A

self-reading pocket ion chamber.

45
Q

Radioactive Incident Flow Chart:

A
46
Q

Dealing with Nuclear Fallout

The “_______” is an invisible cloud-like formation which is projected by such factors as: meteorological conditions, size of release, wind speed/direction, and type of radioactive isotope.

A

Plume