Understanding and Responding to Mass Casualty Radiation Incidents
ASTRO's Role in Radiation Disaster Management
After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, ASTRO recognized a need to involve radiation oncologists and other medical personnel in emergency preparedness measures in the event of a nuclear/radiologic attack or disaster. Because radiation oncologists are the physicians most thoroughly trained to understand the effects of radiation exposure on healthy and malignant cells, ASTRO felt that it was appropriate that our members become one of the principal resources in this effort. To that end, ASTRO worked with the American College of Radiology and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine to create a radiological terrorism primer to serve as an educational tool for radiation oncology and radiology professionals. The primer, Disaster Preparedness for Radiology Professionals, summarizes information on preparing for a radiation emergency, handling contaminated persons, dose assessment and radiation exposure health effects.
Key Resource
Radiation Event Medical Management (REMM). REMM provides guidance for physicians and allied professionals about clinical diagnosis and treatment during mass casualty radiological/nuclear events. REMM provides just-in-time, evidence-based, usable information with sufficient background and context to make complex issues understandable to those without formal radiation medicine expertise. Additionally, this web-based information is also downloadable in advance, so that it would be available during an event if the internet is not accessible.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/
Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS): https://orise.orau.gov/reacts/index.html
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): https://www.fema.gov/radiological-emergency-preparedness-program
Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (HHS/ASPR): https://www.phe.gov/about/pages/default.aspx
Radiation Injury Treatment Network (RITN): https://ritn.net/
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