Radiological Information for Professionals

• Aid for Decontamination of Fire and Rescue Service Protective Clothing and Equipment After Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Exposures
  National Institute of Standards and Technology document providing information for basic decontamination processes and primarily addresses decontamination of PPE after low level exposures to CBRN materials. Exposure rate is discussed on page 63 of 106.
   

• Awareness for Radiological Dispersion Device Preparedness (HHS)
  This training tool was created by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Worker Education and Training Program for those who may be involved in a response to a Radiological Dispersion Device.
   

• Handbook for Responding to a Radiological Dispersal Device First Responder's Guide—The First 12 Hours
  A handbook by the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors to serve as a training and reference tool for first responders with various degrees of radiological experience, providing guidance in a number of areas. This includes a flow chart of actions when responding to a Radiological Dispersion Device, Rules of Thumb guidance, determination of various radiation zones, use of radiation instrumentation, and decontamination guidelines. Dose Guidelines may be found on page 41 of 102.
   

• Public Health Emergency Response – A Guide for Leaders and Responders (HHS)
  US Department of Health and Human Services’ document providing public officials (e.g., mayors, governors, county executives, emergency managers) and first responders (e.g., police, fire, EMS) with information on the public health response to emergencies. They provide insight into what roles, resources, and tools the public health sector can bring to the emergency response table at local, state, and federal levels. They have provided radiation emergencies that are terrorism-related in Appendix D.
   

• First Response Subcommittee, Response Perspectives (Health Physics Society)
  This site focuses on how emergency response personnel can maintain their perspective in a radiological emergency dealing with topics such as personal safety, site safety, instrumentation, and lastly, valuable web links to other key preparedness and response resources.
   

• Manual for First Responders to a Radiological Emergency
  October 2006 practical guidance from the International Atomic Energy Agency published for those responding within a few hours of a radiological emergency. Personnel protection guidelines may be found on page 47 of 94.
   

• Safety and Health Topic addressing Radiological Dispersal Devices and Dirty Bombs
  Occupational Safety & Health Administration site addressing frequently asked questions including first responder, healthcare, clean-up worker protection.
   

• Radiation Emergency Information for First Responders (CDC)
  This website addresses two unique topics: immediate actions after a conventional explosion/dispersal as well as after a nuclear detonation.
   

• Stay Time Tables, Exposure Rates, Dose Guidelines
   

• US Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
  This site focuses on the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant facility and transportation of Transuranic wastes for permanent disposal in an underground repository.
   

• Calculate Your Radiation Dose
  The Environmental Protection Agency site helps you find out how your environment influences your exposure to radiation.

Radiation Emergencies: Background Information (CDC)
Background information is covered in the areas of radiological facts or myths, glossary, radiation measurement, and population monitoring after a radiological release.

• Radiation Emergency Information for Clinicians and Hospitals (CDC)
  The topical areas of this website are Guidelines & Recommendations, Training & Education, and Resources Outside of the CDC. For health care providers, it serves as the once of the most well rounded and up-todate locations for resources and fact sheets in areas such as radiological terrorism, acute radiation syndrome, cutaneous radiation injury, and mass casualty information.

• Radiation Event Medical Management - Guidance on Diagnosis and Treatment for Health Care Providers (HHS)
  This site provides guidance for health care providers, primarily physicians, about clinical diagnosis and treatment during mass casualty radiological/nuclear events. Types of emergencies covered include: 

  • Radiological Dispersal Devices (dirty bombs)

  • Nuclear Explosions: Weapons, Improvised Nuclear Devices

  • Nuclear Reactor Accidents

  • Radiological/Nuclear Transportation Accidents

• Mobile Version of Radiation Event Medical Management (REMM) Website (HHS)
  The Radiation Event Medical Management (REMM) website provides guidance for health care providers, primarily physicians, about clinical diagnosis and treatment during mass casualty radiological/nuclear events. It provides just-in-time, evidence-based, usable information with sufficient background and context to make complex issues understandable to those without formal radiation medicine expertise and provides web-based information that is also downloadable in advance, so that it would be available during an event if the internet is not accessible.

• Guidelines for Handling Decedents Contaminated with Radioactive Materials (CDC)
  This document provides radiological response guidelines that suggest ways for medical examiners, coroners, and funeral directors to deal with loose surface contamination, internal contamination, or shrapnel on or in decedents' bodies.
   

• Model Procedure for Medical Examiner/Coroner on the Handling of a Body/Human Remains That are Potentially Radiologically Contaminated (DOE)
  This purpose of this document from the U.S. Department of Energy is to identify precautions and to provide guidance in the handling or contaminated decendents.
   

• Radiation Event Medical Management (HHS)
  This document serves as the third definitive document made available by the federal government in best practices in handling decedents who had been exposed by radiation but have no contamination, field morgue procedures, autopsies, funeral home guidelines, burial, and shipment of remains.

• Use of Radiation Detectors by First Responder Personnel - A Guide  

• Selection of Equipment                                                                                  

STATE

• Colorado Courses Overview

 

FEDERAL 

• Center for Disease Control                                                                                                                Public Health Planning for Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism                                                                This web-based training will provide public health officials with the most current information regarding public health planning for response to radiation emergencies, including information on local government roles and responsibilities, radiological monitoring of people, pharmaceutical countermeasures deployed by the strategic national stockpile, and the role of communications in a radiation emergency.

• FEMA Independent Study Program                                                                                              Radiological Emergency Management (IS-3)                                                                                       This web-based independent study course is intended to provide members of the general public with an overview of several types of radiological emergencies and introduces the nature, degree of hazard, and general emergency response. Specific emergency response guidance, such as how to operate radiation detection equipment or how to respond to a radiation incident, is presented in other courses.
  
  Modular Emergency Radiological Response Transportation Training (IS-302)  
  This independent study course includes the following topics: radiological basics, biological effects, hazard recognition (markings, labels, and placards), initial response actions, radioactive material shipping packages, on-scene patient handling, radiological terminology and units, assessing package integrity, radiation detection instrumentation, and radiological decontamination. This series of modules can serve as refresher training for those already proficient in radiological response. If you are interested in pursuing the full 18 module course, please refer to the Colorado Course Overview.                                                      

• US Department of Energy                                                                                                                Modular Emergency Response Radiological Transportation Training (MERRTT) Instructor Support                                                                                                                                                                           Radiation Specialist                                                                                                                               This course was designed to meet the training competencies outlined in the 2008 version of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 472, Annex G Competencies for the Technician with a Radioactive Material Specialty.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS)