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Radiation Emergencies

CDC would play a key role in protecting the public health during and after an emergency involving radiation or radioactive materials. To help people be prepared for a radiation emergency, CDC has the following information.

VIEW ARCHIVED WEBCAST:
Medical Response to Nuclear & Radiological Terrorism

On this page:

Information for the Public

Information for First Responders

Information for Clinicians & Hospitals

CDC's Role in a Radiation Emergency

For non-emergency radiation information, see the Radiation Studies website.

Information for the Public

Emergency Instructions for Individuals & Families

FAQ About a Radiation Emergency
How you can protect yourself & your family in a radiation emergency.

Dirty Bombs
What you need to know if there were a terrorist attack with a conventional weapon that has radioactive material in it.

Sheltering in Place During a Radiation Emergency
When & how you need to shelter in place during a radiation emergency.

Nuclear Blast
FAQs about what a nuclear blast is & how to protect yourself.

Radioactive Contamination and Radiation Exposure

Potassium Iodide (KI)
When you should use KI in a radiation emergency.

DTPA
Facts about Diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA) & how it can remove select radioactive materials from people's bodies.

Prussian Blue
Facts about Prussian blue & how Prussian blue can remove select radioactive materials from people's bodies.

Neupogen
Facts, what it is, & how it is used

Background Information

Radiation Facts
Basic information about radiation.

Radiation & Health Effects
How exposure to radiation can affect your health.

Nuclear Terrorism & Health Effects 
What happens during a nuclear or radiation terrorist attack & how you should respond.

Acute Radiation Syndrome
What you need to know about radiation sickness.

Radiation Exposure to Unborn Babies
How radiation exposure affects pregnant women & their unborn babies.

Radioactive Isotopes
Information about isotopes that might be used in a terrorist attack.

Radiation Measurement
Explanation of measurement units with examples of common radiation exposures

Glossary of Radiological Terms
Definitions of terms used throughout this site

Information for First Responders

Casualty Management After a Deliberate Release of Radioactive Material
Immediate actions for first responders when radioactive material has been scattered by a conventional explosion or spread through an aerosol.

Casualty Management After Detonation of a Nuclear Weapon in an Urban Area
Immediate actions for first responders when a nuclear weapon has been detonated in an urban area.

Information for Clinicians & Hospitals

Acute Radiation Syndrome: Physicians' Fact Sheet
What physicians need to know about the presentation, diagnosis, & treatment of patients with acute radiation syndrome.

Prenatal Radiation Exposure: Physicans' Fact Sheet
What physicians need to know about diagnosing, treating, & advising pregnant women who have been exposed to radiation.

Interim Guidelines for Hospital Response to Mass Casualties from a Radiological Incident Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF (1,143 KB/98 pages)

Roundtable on Hospital Communications: Participants’ Comments, Ideas, & Recommendations - A Summary Report Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF (454 KB/25 pages)
From CDC communications roundtable (Jan 14-16, 2003) on hospitals' challenges in communicating during radiation emergencies.

Resources Outside CDC

Medical Treatment of Radiological Casualties Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF (334 KB/78 pages)
Dept of Homeland Security Working Group on Radiological Dispersal Device Preparedness.

Emergency Department Management of Radiation Casualties  Microsoft PowerPoint PowerPoint (812 KB/40 slides)
Prepared by the Radiological Emergency Medical Preparedness & Management Subcommittee of the National Health Physics Society Ad Hoc Committee on Homeland Security. To best view this presentation, please "Save As" a PowerPoint file.

CDC's Role in a Radiation Emergency

CDC's Role in a Terrorist Event
What CDC would do to protect people’s health in a radiation emergency.

Resources Outside CDC

Federal Response Plan (Office of Homeland Security)
What the federal government’s role would be in a terrorist or natural disaster event.

Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan
What the federal government’s role would be in a radiation emergency.

CDC HOTLINES

Public:
English—888-246-2675
Español—888-246-2857
TTY—866-874-2646
Clinicians:
877-554-4625
E-mail:
cdcresponse@ashastd.org

Related Resources

Related Sites

Glossary

Other Resources Outside CDC

Medical Treatment of Radiological Casualties
Dept of Homeland Security Working Group on Radiological Dispersal Device Preparedness

REAC/TS

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Environmental Protection Agency

Food & Drug Administration

Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors

Department of Energy

Armed Forces Radiological Research Institute (AFRRI)

National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP)

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