Medical Management of Radiation Incidents

As part of its primary mission for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to consult with officials from any federal, state or local government agency; industries; international governments or organizations; or individuals needing assistance with the medical management of a radiation emergency.

Physicians and health physicists are available to answer questions of a general nature or inquiries related to a specific incident involving radiation exposure, or external or internal contamination. REAC/TS staff also provide advice on:

• Planning activities to prepare agencies or organizations to respond to a radiation emergency
• Medical aspects of managing a radiation emergency
• Treatments for exposures to specific radionuclides
• Health physics consultations
• Calculations for radiation dose estimates

As a DOE-deployable asset, REAC/TS participates in national exercises where a simulated terrorist attack involves radiological materials. REAC/TS staff provide expertise on the medical management of the victims.

In the event of a radiological incident, REAC/TS’ health physicists (and other ORISE health physicists) are also available to provide event reconstruction, which is critical to understanding radiation exposure. Dose and event reconstruction are key steps in determining the appropriate treatment for individuals exposed to high levels of radiation.