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Radiation Emergencies

There are different types of radiation emergencies that vary in how much damage they cause and harm they pose to the public. Some examples of radiation emergencies include: a nuclear detonation (explosion), an accident at a nuclear power plant, a transportation accident involving a shipment of radioactive materials, or an occupational exposure like in a healthcare or research setting. While the extent of the damage will vary, the steps to protect yourself from radiation are the same. You can keep your family safe by knowing what to do and being prepared if an incident occurs. Follow these simple steps: The best way to stay safe in any radiation emergency is to get inside, stay inside and stay…

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  REMM

Provide guidance for health care providers, primarily physicians, about clinical diagnosis and treatment of radiation injury during radiological and nuclear emergencies

 Preparing for Nuclear Incidents

Nuclear threats today are significantly diminished from the days of the Cold War when buildings had fallout shelters and school children practiced “duck and cover” -- but threats still do exist. There are simple steps you can take to prepare for a nuclear incident and to protect yourself if it does happen.

Articles of Interest

A Brief History of Nuclear Accidents Worldwide

Serious nuclear accidents have been few and far between—but their stories will help prevent future catastrophes.

Exploding stars are rare but emit torrents of radiation − if one happened close enough to Earth, it could threaten life on the planet

Supernovae happen across the Milky Way only a few times a century, and these violent explosions are usually remote enough that people here on Earth don’t notice. For a dying star to have any effect on life on our planet, it would have to go supernova within 100 light years from Earth.

Nuclear and Radiological Accidents

Radiological accidents are accidents that involve radioactive material, but do not necessarily involve nuclear processes. Radiological accidents can occur wherever radioactive materials are being used, stored, or transported. Overall, the impact of radiological accidents is more limited and localised compared to nuclear accidents. Radiological accidents can be further exacerbated by ageing of nuclear facilities, CBRN terror attacks and climate change.

Nuclear weapons: an accident waiting to happen

In July 1956, a plane crashed in Suffolk, nearly detonating an atomic bomb. In January 1987, an RAF truck carrying hydrogen bombs skidded off a road in Wiltshire. Other near-misses remain top secret.

Radiation Emergencies and Preparedness

Radiation emergencies can be intentional acts designed to hurt others, like a terrorist attack, or they can be accidents that occur when using radioactive material. If a radiation emergency ever happens, it is important to remember to get inside a sturdy building, and into the basement or the innermost room, stay there for at least 24 hours, and stay tuned to the news, official social media accounts, or the radio.

There's a nuclear incident

If a major incident occurs at a nuclear power plant and you're nearby, you can take action to protect yourself and your loved ones. Always follow the instructions of local authoritie...

What if it happened again? What we need to do to prepare for a nuclear event

Today, the risk for a nuclear exchange – and its devastating impact on medicine and public health worldwide – has only escalated. Nuclear weapons are spreading to more nations, and international relations are increasingly volatile. The developing technological sophistication among terrorist groups and the growing global availability and distribution of radioactive materials are also especially worrying. Despite the gloomy prospects of health outcomes of any large scale nuclear event common in the minds of many, it is our mutually shared moral and ethical obligation to respond.