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What Every Public Safety Officer Should Know About Radiation and Radioactive Materials: a Resource Guide

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What Every Public Safety Officer Should Know About Radiation and Radioactive Materials: a Resource Guide NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS TECHNOLOGY CENTER A program of the National Institute of Justice From Summer 2003 TechBeat TECH b • e • a • t Dedicated to Reporting Developments in Technology for Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Forensic Sciences What Every Public Safety Officer Should Know About Radiation and Radioactive Materials: A Resource Guide his resource guide provides a broad list of sources of www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mhmi.html T information and guidance for law enforcement officers, Links to a three-volume planning guide (with accompany- firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and other public ing video) to help first responders, both onscene and at safety officers who may be the first responders to a terrorist the hospital, with the medical management of patients attack in which a nonnuclear radiological device (known exposed during a hazardous materials incident. as a radiological dispersal device (RDD) or a “dirty bomb”) is used. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Radiation Studies These resources will help departments and agencies Casualty Management After a Deliberate Release of develop and update procedural guidelines and personnel Radioactive Material. training. Also covered are resources for response, equip- www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/casualtiesradioactive.asp ment funding, and general information. Recommends immediate actions for police, firefighters, Although many of the following resources provide and emergency medical technicians who may be faced links to other websites, the list should not be considered with a nuclear terrorist act. all inclusive. A number of other government and non- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National government organizations also provide publications, Center for Environmental Health, Radiation Studies guidelines, information, and training for first responders. Casualty Management After Detonation of a Nuclear Most have websites and can be located by using a search Weapon in an Urban Area. engine, such as Google™ or AltaVista™. Website addresses www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/casualtiesdetonation.asp change frequently. If a listed address no longer works, try locating the site by using a search engine. Recommends immediate actions for police personnel, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who A 35-page, electronic version of this guide that may be faced with the detonation of a nuclear weapon includes expanded resource descriptions and an appen- in a populated area. dix of general contact information for Federal Govern- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National ment agencies involved in planning and implementing Institute for Occupational Safety and Health responses to radiological attack can be downloaded Guidance for Protecting Building Environments From through JUSTNET, the website of the National Law Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks, Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center system, May 2002. at www.justnet.org. For assistance, call 800–248–2742. A www.cdc.gov/niosh/bldvent/pdfs/2002-139.pdf quick-reference poster that provides basic information Provides specific recommendations for building owners about radiation hazards and initial response is in the and managers on how to protect indoor environments Spring 2003 TechBeat, also available at www.justnet.org. from airborne chemical/biological/radiological agents. Procedural Guidelines Central Intelligence Agency, Interagency Intelligence Committee on Terrorism Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chemical/Biological/Radiological Incident Handbook, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry October 1998 (updated). Managing Hazardous Materials Incidents: A Planning Guide for the Management of Contaminated Patients, 2001. 1 www.cia.gov/cia/publications/cbr_handbook/ responding to hazardous materials incidents, including cbrbook.htm the release of radioactive materials (considered a level 3 Provides information for first responders to use when incident—the highest level in the standard). making a preliminary assessment of a suspected chemi- cal, biological, or radiological incident. The handbook National Fire Protection Association includes a concise list of indicators of the use and/or Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding presence of chemical, biological, or radiological material to Hazardous Materials Incidents (NFPA 473), 2002. to aid in the assessment. www.nfpa.org/PDF/473.pdf Defines the roles and responsibilities of emergency Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response medical personnel who may be required to respond to Association hazardous materials incidents and includes suggested Introduction to NBC Terrorism: An Awareness Primer training requirements, hazardous materials classifica- and Preparedness Guide for Emergency Responders, tions, and informational references for terrorist and October 15, 2001. criminal activity. www.disasters.org/dera/library/Heyer%20WMD.pdf Includes a section on nuclear and radiological weapons, National Fire Protection Association including dirty bombs, and discusses decontamination Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to techniques for victims and first responders. Hazardous Materials Incidents (NFPA 472), 2002. www.nfpa.org/PDF/472.pdf Federal Emergency Management Agency Defines internal standards for qualifications of various Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness, categories of persons responding to incidents involving September 2002 (rev. ed.). hazardous materials, including incidents involving radia- [Chapter on national security emergencies, section on tion and incidents resulting from criminal or terrorist nuclear and radiological attack.] activities. www.fema.gov/pdf/areyouready/security.pdf National Institute of Standards and Technology Discusses possible fallout and effects of a nuclear or radiological attack, including a dirty bomb. Aid for Decontamination of Fire and Rescue Service Protective Clothing and Equipment After Chemical, Federal Emergency Management Agency Biological, and Radiological Exposures, NIST Special Publication 981, 2002. Toolkit for Managing the Emergency Consequences of Terrorist Incidents: Interim Planning Guide for State and www.mipt.org/pdf/nistspecialpub981.pdf Local Governments, July 2002. Provides fire and rescue services and other emergency www.fema.gov/onp/toolkit.shtm (Available in PDF and first responders with information on basic decontamina- text-only formats.) tion processes for personal protective equipment after exposure to low levels of chemical or biological agents Contains a series of checklists and forms for assessing or radiological materials following an attack with a the capabilities of State and local emergency response weapon of mass destruction. agencies to respond to terrorist incidents. National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology International Association of Emergency Managers Center System IAEM Terrorism Program Guide, March 2002. What Every Public Safety Officer Should Know About www.iaem.com/terrorism_program_guide_.html Radiation and Radioactive Materials, February 2003. Offers detailed information on emergency planning, www.justnet.org/radiation/brochure.html including creating a quick response plan; organizing and Provides basic information about radiation, radiation setting priorities for emergency response planning; plan- hazards, and initial response. It is not intended to replace ning for response to nontraditional emergencies; ensur- an agency’s existing policies, procedures, or training. ing continuity of operations; preparing and implementing training exercises; disseminating emergency response National League of Cities information to the public; and assessing technology options to support homeland security and emergency Homeland Security: Practical Tools for Local Governments, response functions. November 2002 (rev. ed.). www.nlc.org/nlc_org/site/files/reports/terrorism.pdf National Fire Protection Association Developed for local officials by the National League of Recommended Practice for Responding to Hazardous Cities’ Working Group on Homeland Security. Provides Materials Incidents (NFPA 471), 2002. a set of guidelines for responding to terrorist attacks, www.nfpa.org/PDF/471.pdf discusses planning for terrorist attacks in general and responding to specific types of terrorists, and includes Sets forth the NFPA’s recommended standard operating a comprehensive list of resources. guidelines for organizations that are responsible for 2 National Safety Council U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Emergencies and Disasters. Fact Sheet on Dirty Bombs. Washington, DC: U.S. Nuclear www.nsc.org/issues/prepare.htm Regulatory Commission, December 6, 2002. Offers resources on emergency response planning for www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/ emergency responders, businesses, communities, and dirty-bombs.html journalists. Links to articles and guidance documents on Discusses the impact of a dirty bomb and issues regard- effective emergency response planning, a 10-point check- ing the security and control of nuclear materials and list for emergency preparedness, a list of more than 100 links to Nuclear Regulatory Commission information documents related to emergency preparedness, and an regarding responses to radiological emergencies. emergency response reference guide prepared to assist with quick action procedures. Personnel Training Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site Center for Terrorism Preparedness, School for www.orau.gov/reacts/
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