Project Highlight
Preparing Communities for Population Monitoring in Radiation Emergencies
The current capacity to identify, screen and monitor members of the public who may be exposed to radiation, as a result of an unexpected nuclear or radiological event such as an act of terrorism, is limited. Planning that does exist is designed for small numbers of adult workers in industrial settings and does not account for the suddenness of a potentially large-scale and urban-nature of a terrorist attack.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asked ORISE for assistance in the development of a comprehensive population monitoring guide to assist communities in preparing for a timely and adequate response to such emergencies.
Evaluation of best methods for performing radiation population monitoring, current capability to perform in this capacity, and guidelines for preparing to respond to a radiation emergency were addressed by an early 2005 roundtable. Roundtable participants included federal, state and local public health agencies, clinicians, public and private health organizations, and health professional organizations. Physicians, health physicists, emergency services personnel, mental health practitioners, environmental scientists and international radiation specialists contributed to the guide development.
The population monitoring guide is a tool for public health officials and emergency preparedness planners at the state and local level. The guide addresses elements that are often overlooked in emergency response planning but critical to address within the first few hours of the incident before the arrival of federal assistance. Specifically, the guide can help authorities evaluate their emergency response plan; identify and prioritize staffing and training needs; and identify local, state and federal partners.