Public protection guidelines

Instruction

User:
Incident Commander or his/her designee
When to apply:
Always when responding to a radiological emergency with public involvement

For those members of the public who are within the inner cordoned area when first responders arrive:

  1. Promptly evacuate as possible. Before evacuation takes place, instruct the public to take best available shelter (e.g. go to indoor hall, stay away from windows)
  2. Instruct not to handle, but to isolate and identify to a responder any possible radioactive item
  3. Instruct them not to smoke, eat, drink or place hands near mouth; to wash hands, shower and change clothes when possible to avoid inadvertent ingestion
  4. Following evacuation:
    • Register
    • If contamination is a concern (possible presence of radioactive smoke, liquid or dust):
      • Remind evacuees not to smoke, eat, drink or place hands near mouth; to wash hands, shower and change clothes when possible to avoid inadvertent ingestion.
      • Perform monitoring (if available)
      • If warranted and practical, conduct immediate decontamination in accordance with instructions for public decontamination
    • Provide them with instructions on where to go for further information and/or medical/radiological assessment
    • Instruct them on the need, after leaving the scene, to:
      • Shower and change clothes when possible, place clothes in plastic bag and save them (if not implemented yet)
      • Listen for further instructions on where to get information and/or medical/radiological assessment

For those members of the public who may have left the inner cordoned area without registration:

  1. Instruct them, if necessary via the media, on the following:
    • Not to handle but to report to the local police any items they might have picked up at the scene
    • Not to smoke, eat, drink or place hands near the mouth until a shower is taken and clothes are changed
    • To shower and change clothes when possible, place clothes in plastic bag and save
    • To continue to listen for and follow official instructions given via the media (TV or radio)

For those members of the public outside the inner cordoned area:

If there has been an atmospheric release (smoke from fire or bomb) instruct public, via the media, within about 1 km of the release point that it would be prudent:

  1. To remain inside building during the release (smoke)
  2. Not to eat any vegetables grown outside or drink rainwater
  3. Not to play on the ground
  4. To wash hands before eating
  5. To avoid dusty areas or activities that will generate dust
  6. To listen for and follow official instructions given via the media (TV or radio)