What are some strategies we can implement to reduce the risk of exposure to radiation?

Time:

“Time” simply refers to the amount of time you spend near a radioactive source. Minimize your time near a radioactive source to only what it takes to get the job done. If you are in an area where radiation levels are elevated,

• complete your work as quickly as possible, and then
• leave the area.

There is no reason to spend more time around it than necessary.

For an example of minimizing time, click here

Distance:

“Distance” refers to how close you are to a radioactive source.  Maximize your distance from a radioactive source as much as you can.  If you increase your distance, you decrease your dose.

For an example of maximizing distance, click here

Shielding:

To shield yourself from a radiation source, you need to put something between you and the radiation source. The most effective shielding will depend on what kind of radiation the source is emitting. Some radionuclides emit more than one kind of radiation.

For an example of using shielding, click here

You can see how these principles work together when you have an x-ray at your doctor’s office or clinic. The radiation technician goes behind a barrier while taking the x-ray image. The barrier protects them from repeated daily exposure to radiation.

If there is a radiation emergency, use time, distance, and shielding to protect yourself and your family.

Time

If a radiation emergency happens, get inside a stable building as quickly as possible.

Distance

How long you need to stay inside will depend on

• the type and magnitude of the incident and
• the amount of damage to critical infrastructure, like roads and bridges.

Emergency officials will instruct you when it is safe to leave the area.

Shielding

If you are in a multistory building, move to the center floors.

If you are in a single story building, stay in the center away from windows, doors, and exterior walls.

You can also take shelter in a basement.

If you are a first responder or radiation worker, you can use personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize your exposure.

• Respirators will help protect from inhalation hazards.
• Protective clothing helps keep radioactive material off of skin and hair.
• Alarming dosimeters help manage stay time and track your accumulated doses in an area with elevated radiation levels.

If radioactive material gets on skin, clothing, or hair, it’s important to get it off as quickly as possible.

For information on decontaminating yourself, click here

Anybody who works with radiation should work with their safety officers and radiation safety professionals. They should work together to determine PPE and instrumentation needed to stay safe.

Get inside. Stay Inside. Stay Tuned.

In the event of a radiation emergency, whether intentional or not, journalists play an important role in making certain the public receives timely and accurate information that will be helpful in saving lives.

CDC has tools and resources to help journalists understand how radiation affects lives every day and especially during a radiation emergency. Following are some key concepts, messages, and resources that may be helpful to journalists and other media professionals.

Protect yourself, your family, and your pets in a radiation emergency.

• Get inside or take shelter,
• Stay inside to reduce your exposure to radiation, and
• Stay tuned for further instructions on what to do.

Because radioactive materials become weaker over time, staying inside for at least 24 hours can protect you and your family until it is safe to leave the area. If you have loved ones in schools, day cares, hospitals, nursing homes, or other facilities during a radiation emergency, stay where you are! Going outside to get loved ones could expose you and them to dangerous levels of radiation. Learn more about what to do in a radiation emergency.

Decontamination

Decontaminating yourself if you were outside during a radiation emergency will lower your exposure to harmful radioactive material. Even just removing your outer layer of clothing can remove up to 90% of radioactive material.

• Take off your outer layer of clothing
• Wash yourself off
• Put on clean clothes

Learn more about how to self-decontaminate after a radiation emergency.

Health Effects of Radiation

Radiation can affect the body in a number of ways.

• The health effects depend on the amount of radiation absorbed by the body (the dose), the type of radiation, and how and for how long the person was exposed.
•  In large doses, radiation can cause serious illness or skin burns.
•  If you are injured or think you are injured, seek medical attention right away.  Learn more about possible health effects of radiation exposure and contamination.

Medical Treatments

There are several treatments available for radiation emergencies, but each type of treatment works only for certain situations.

• In some situations, no treatment is available or appropriate.
• The treatments that are available for internal contamination include potassium iodide (KI), Prussian blue, and Diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA).
• Medical and other officials will monitor the situation to determine which kinds of treatments are needed and will provide information about how to get them.

How can you reduce the risk of radiation exposure?

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