Radiation is caused by tiny particles that cannot be seen or smelled. Small amounts can be tolerated, but large amounts cause illness and death by affecting rapidly reproducing cells like those in the gut and bone marrow. Immediate death from radiation exposure is usually due to brain hemorrhage. Potassium iodide tablets may prevent thyroid cancer from radiation exposure. Protecting yourself involves minimizing time in contaminated areas, maximizing distance from explosions, and shielding your body from radiation. Radiation sickness symptoms depend on dosage and can include bone marrow destruction, severe dehydration, or circulatory collapse.
2. Radia%on
• Caused
by
%ny
par%cles,
can’t
be
seen
or
smelled
• We
all
can
tolerate
small
amounts,
but
large
amounts
cause
illness
and
death
• Effects
most
rapidly
reproducing
and
growing
cells
in
the
body-‐gut
and
marrow
• Immediate
Death
usually
Brain
Hemorrhage
7. Potassium
Iodide
Tablets
• Given
to
Workers
in
Nuclear
Power
Plant
• May
prevent
Thyroid
cancer
from
radia%on
exposure
• No
immediate
value
to
prevent
radia%on
illness
8. Protec%ng
Yourself
From
Radia%on
• Less
%me
in
contaminated
area
the
beVer
• The
farther
you
are
from
the
explosion
the
safer
you
are
likely
to
be
• The
more
you
can
shield
your
body
the
less
Radia%on
you
are
apt
to
absorb
9.
10. Radia%on
Sicknes
• 30-‐1000
Rads-‐Bone
Marrow
Syndrome-‐
Destruc%on
of
Bone
Marrow-‐Infec%on
and
Death
• 600-‐10,000
Rads-‐GI
Syndrome-‐Severe
Dehydra%on-‐Death-‐Can
Be
Irreversible
• 2000-‐5000
Rads-‐CV/CNS
Syndrome-‐Death
Uss.
3
days
from
Collapse
of
Circulatory
system
&
Incr.
Brain
Pres.
11. Ten
Minute
Medicine
Tips
for
Radia%on
• Stay
Upwind
of
vic%m
and
wear
mask
(or
make
mask)
• Wear
Protec%ve
Clothes
if
Available
• Wash
vic%m
down
with
water,
remove
dust
&
radioac%ve
par%cles
check
for
other
injuries
• Major
danger
is
infec%on-‐guard
against
it
• Do
not
give
vic%m
food,
it
may
be
contaminated
with
bacteria