Exposure + Contamination (Text Version)
- Assess External Contamination
- Decontaminate Whole Body
- Evaluate if All Are True
- If All Are True:
- Otherwise: Evaluate at Medical Facility
- Treat life- or limb-threatening injuries first
- Obtain serial CBCs with differential to evaluate possibility of exposure and ARS
- Remove any remaining radioactive shrapnel and shield it safely
- Surgical window of about 36-48 hours, depends on rate of dropping blood counts
- Treat non-life-threatening problems
- Assess Internal Contamination
- Scan patient with radiation survey meter (caveat)
- Event responders or radiation safety officer will identify the isotope(s)
- Swab body orifices (e.g., nostrils, ears, mouth, rectum) to help estimate body burden of isotope
- Collect 24-hr stool for isotope measurement (baseline and sequential after management)
- Collect 24-hr urine for isotope measurement
- Label all specimens with time, date, and name
- Perform total body count if available; consider hospital nuclear medicine equipment
- Treat Internal Contamination of Specific Isotope
- Diagnose/Manage Exposure - Acute Radiation Syndrome
- If No Recovery:
- For Patient Making a Recovery: Arrange for continuing and long-term follow-up
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