Getting Started

Potential Incidents
Planning
Decontamination
Triage
Treatment
Pharmacotherapy

Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Scenario 3
Scenario 4
Scenario 5
Scenario 6

Glossary
Resources
Self Test

Getting Started

Potential Incidents
Planning
Decontamination
Triage
Treatment
Pharmacotherapy

Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Scenario 3
Scenario 4
Scenario 5
Scenario 6

Glossary

Resources

Self Test

Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism:
Medical Response to Mass Casualties

Scenario 2 - Part A

Previous Next

Critique the scenario you just saw by indicating which of the following statements is/are true.

Incorrect! It is highly unlikely that radioactivity associated with a contaminated patient would pose a significant risk to caregivers. Standard precautions PPE, with N-95 mask if available, is adequate when radiation is the sole contaminant. The “quick look” survey not only confirmed the presence of contamination, but ruled out the presence of imbedded radioactive shrapnel, a rare event that would require special precautions such as rotating care providers. Provision of life-saving treatment should take priority over radiological decontamination. Removal of this patient’s clothes likely removed as much as 90% of the contamination. To allow for provision of life-saving treatment, hospitals should have a policy and procedure for performing radiological decontamination inside the facility.

Correct! It is highly unlikely that radioactivity associated with a contaminated patient would pose a significant risk to caregivers. Standard precautions PPE, with N-95 mask if available, is adequate when radiation is the sole contaminant. The “quick look” survey not only confirmed the presence of contamination, but ruled out the presence of imbedded radioactive shrapnel, a rare event that would require special precautions such as rotating care providers. Provision of life-saving treatment should take priority over radiological decontamination. Removal of this patient’s clothes likely removed as much as 90% of the contamination. To allow for provision of life-saving treatment, hospitals should have a policy and procedure for performing radiological decontamination inside the facility.

Radiologically contaminated patients should never be allowed to enter the hospital.

Health care workers treating radiologically contaminated patients must wear chemical suits.

This patient should have been immediately decontaminated upon arrival at the hospital.

A purpose of this “quick look” radiological survey was to assess caregiver risk.

All of the above.

Although standardized triage algorithms for mass casualties following radiological events are not currently available, triage should be based on:

Incorrect! Each of these are factors in determining triage priority. Following an RDD explosion, routine trauma triage protocols will prevail, as radiation exposure levels alone are unlikely to generate an emergent condition. Combined injury (significant mechanical trauma or burns combined with systemic radiation injury) is not likely with an RDD unless patients are trapped near sources of gamma radiation.

Correct! Each of these are factors in determining triage priority. Following an RDD explosion, routine trauma triage protocols will prevail, as radiation exposure levels alone are unlikely to generate an emergent condition. Combined injury (significant mechanical trauma or burns combined with systemic radiation injury) is not likely with an RDD unless patients are trapped near sources of gamma radiation.

Traumatic injury and medical condition assessment

Clinical assessment of signs and symptoms of radiation exposure

Exposure history

Contamination survey

All of the above.

Previous Next