Dose Reconstruction
Estimate Exposure
Estimate exposure by:
- Location of patient in relation to epicenter and radioactive plume
- Duration of time patient was exposed to radiation
- Shielding between patient and radiation
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Example of How to Elicit Basic Information from Victims
Example of how to elicit basic information from victims that will help estimate dose from exposure (and contamination)
- Where were you when the incident happened?
(This can be matched to the plume data when they become available)
- If you were indoors: building name, street address, floor, room, location in room
- If you were outdoors: street and cross street or other markers of location
- If you were in your car: Where was the car? Were the windows open?
- What time did you first notice the incident?
- What did you notice?
- If you were inside a building:
- Were the windows open where you were?
(This gives an idea about possible inhalation of radioactive material.)
- Can you or someone else provide detailed information about building/room/furniture construction and location in relation to where you were?
(This information assists in estimating the possible effects of shielding.)
- Can you or someone else determine if the building air handling system was working at the time of event?
(This attempts to determine whether there was intake of radioactive material from the air as the plume passed over the area.)
- If you moved from where you were at the time of the incident, can you tell me exactly where you went after that and about what time you got to various landmarks along the way?
- Did you have any nausea or vomiting? If yes, tell me what time you noticed nausea/vomiting for the first time and how severe it has been.
(This information can be used in the various tools to estimate whole body exposure dose, knowing full well that the dose may not have been uniform and that all vomiting is not necessarily related to exposure.)
See also:
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References |
- Waselenko JK, MacVittie TJ, Blakely WF, Pesik N, Wiley AL, Dickerson WE, Tsu H, Confer DL, Coleman CN, Seed T, Lowry P, Armitage JO, Dainiak N; Strategic National Stockpile Radiation Working Group. Medical management of the acute radiation syndrome: recommendations of the Strategic National Stockpile Radiation Working Group. Annals of Internal Medicine 2004 Jun 15;140(12):1037-51. [PubMed Citation]
- Radiation Dosimetry Monograph: "Applications of Dosimetry in Radiation Epidemiology" (Radiation Research, July 2006, Volume 166, Number 1. Special Supplement) (HHS/National Cancer Institute/Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics)
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