HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT OF MASS RADIOLOGICAL CASUALTIES: REASSESSING EXPOSURES FROM CONTAMINATED VICTIMS OF AN EXPLODED RADIOLOGICAL DISPERSAL DEVICE

• DOI: 10.1097/01.hp.0000175444.30788.75
• Publication Date: 2005-10-07T08:04:13Z
• Authors: James M. Smith; Armin Ansari; Frederick T. Harper
• Keywords: Radiation Dosage; Hospitals; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Radiation Protection; 0302 clinical medicine; Radiation Monitoring; Humans; Terrorism; Radiation Injuries; Radioactive Hazard Release; Decontamination

One of the key issues in aftermath an exploded radiological dispersal device from a terrorist event is that contaminated victim and concern among healthcare providers for harmful exposures they may receive treating patients, especially if patient has not been thoroughly decontaminated. This critically important mass casualties nuclear or incident because essential rapidity acute medical decisions those who have life- limb-threatening injuries treatment unduly delayed by decontamination process be unnecessary protecting health safety provider. To estimate potential contamination exposed event, results were used explosive aerosolization tests surrogate radionuclides detonated with high explosives at Sandia National Laboratories. Computer modeling was also to assess radiation dose rates surgical personnel patients blast are any variety common radionuclides. It demonstrated exceptional but plausible cases require special precautions provider, even while managing life-threatening event.