Transport Victims of Radiation Emergencies to Appropriate Venue(s)
Key points
Transporting victims with exposure but no contamination
- These victims do not require radiation protection for the vehicle or its personnel.
- Place 2 sheets/blankets on the litter before placing the contaminated patient on the litter .
- Remove the victim's contaminated outer clothing before loading him/her onto the litter.
- Fold the edges of the 2 layers of sheets over the patient while maintaining access to the airway and adequate visual surveillance.
- Place at least one layer of covering on the gurney before loading the litter onto the gurney.
- Close all open compartments within the transport vehicle prior to the transport
- Use disposable equipment when possible.
- Attempt to reduce contamination inside the vehicle after the transport is completed.
- See two demonstrations videos about transporting contaminated persons (DOE/TEPP)
- NCRP guidance recommendations about transporting contaminated victims2:
- Minor contamination a vehicle's interior should not prevent or delay its use to respond to emergencies.
- Perfect contamination control will likely not be possible during the early phase of an incident .
- Establish and practice in advance how these procedures will be implemented.
top of page
References
- Hrdina CM, Coleman CN, Bogucki S, Bader JL, Hayhurst RE, Forsha JD, Marcozzi D, Yeskey K, Knebel AR. The "RTR" medical response system for nuclear and radiological mass-casualty incidents: a functional TRiage-TReatment-TRansport medical response model. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2009 May-Jun;24(3):167-78. [PubMed Citation]
- Responding to a Radiological or Nuclear Terrorism Incident: A Guide for Decision Makers (NCRP Report No. 165), National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Bethesda, MD, January 2010. Purchase required.
|
