First Responders
Does Radiation Change the Response
Thomas F. O’Connell
Health Physics Society Midyear Meeting
AAHP February 12, 2005
New Orleans, LA
Possible First Responders

Emergency Medical Services

Law Enforcement

Fire Service

Citizens
Initial Notification
911 Call
 Dispatch
 Station
 Details

– Location
– Event
– Dependent on Observer
Guidelines for Response

Weapons of Mass Destruction
– Hazardous Materials with Attitude

National Fire Protection Association
– NFPA 471 Responding to HazMat
– NFPA 472 HazMat Competence
– NFPA 473 EMS HazMat
– Consensus Standards
Requirements for Response

OSHA
– 1910.38, Emergency Action Plans
– 1910.120, Hazardous waste operations and
emergency response
– 1910.120(q), Emergency response program to
hazardous substance releases

EPA 40 CFR 311 Worker Protection
– Brings Everyone Under OSHA
Response Structure







Incident Specific
Multiple Agencies
Short Term or Long Term
Accountability
Control
Function Based
Sounds Like Incident Command
Why Use ICS

Time Proven System of Management

Standardized Approach

Common Terminology

Modular and Flexible

Cost Effective

All Hazards Concept
Command Staff
Roles and Missions

Law Enforcement
– Investigation
– Security of Scene and Responders

Emergency Medical Services
– Medical

Fire Department
– Rescue
– Fire Suppression

Others
Response Ideology

Workforce Protection

Safe Work in an Unsafe Environment

Control Incident Movement

Protect Population

Preserve Property
Sizing Up the Incident
Establishing the Scene
 Impact on Services
 Personal Protective Equipment
 Tactics and Strategies
 Offensive/Defensive
 Communications

Incident Action Plan
Every Incident - Verbal or Written
 Provides Direction for:

– Operational Period
– Measurable Tactical Operations

Minimum of Four Elements
– What do We Want to do?
– Who is Responsible for Job?
– How to Communicate?
– Procedures for Injuries?
Re-Evaluate Constantly
Prioritize Critical Missions
 Changing Conditions
 Weather – Now and Projected
 Unavailable Assets
 Additional Assets
 Experts
 Communications

Responder Questions
Radiation Limits
 Dose Rates
 Exposure
 When to Work
 When to Leave
 Short Term or Long Term Incidents

Electronic Dosimeter Alarm Point Guidance
Alarm Set Point
Type
Reading3
1st Dose Rate
2 mrem/hr
2nd Dose Rate
1st Accumulated
Dose
10000 mrem/hr
(10 Rem/hr)
2500 mrem
(2.5 Rem)
2nd Accumulated
Dose
10000 mrem
(10 Rem)
Comments1, 2
This is a generally accepted value
to be used to establish the hot zone
(exclusion area) for a response to a
transportation accident involving
radiation.
Recommended value listed in
National Council on Radiation
Protection and Measurements
Report Number 138
This is one-half of the 5000 mrem
annual regulatory exposure limit for
occupationally exposed radiation
workers.
This is less than one-half the 25000
mrem dose value listed in EPA 400R-92-001 for lifesaving or
protection of large populations.
Recommended value listed in
National Council on Radiation
Protection and Measurements
Report Number 138.
Responder Actions
Continue rescue and
investigation activities.
Establish exclusion
zone.
Leave the area unless
rescue of known victims
can be accomplished
efficiently and within
guidance values for
accumulated dose
alarms to responders.
Accumulated doses
greater than 10 Rem
must be carefully
considered.
Seek expert advice.
Summary

Established Structure

Trained Responders

Continued Education

Perspective is Important

Integration and Collaboration

Prepare, Respond, Recover