First Responder Monitor's Action Guide

Action Guide

When to apply:
If there is a person available, who is equipped and experienced to perform basic radiation monitoring.

Caution: Perform this function only if you feel confident that you have the necessary experience. This instruction is not a substitute for the radiological assessment performed by the radiological assessor/team.

Actions (as appropriate and practical):

  • Operate under the IC and follow personnel protection guidelines
  • Receive a briefing from the IC
  • Assist the resource coordinator to obtain additional first responder monitors, if required, before arrival of the radiological assessor/team to perform tasks listed below
  • Consult with the radiological assessor/team by phone before their arrival, if required
  • Perform operational checks of the instruments. If more than one instrument is available, perform crosschecks between instruments to ensure consistent readings. Confirm gamma dose rate meter(s) can measure from 0.1 µSv/h to 1000 mSv/h (0.1 Sv/h)
  • Store in clean place outside of inner cordoned area one instrument for monitoring of low level contamination

Caution: Some instruments can be saturated (be overwhelmed) by very high radiation levels and show a low or "0" reading in very dangerous areas.

  • Approach the scene with an instrument that can read at least 100 mSv/h switched on and do not enter areas with ambient dose rates > 100 mSv/h
  • Arrange for monitoring to:
    • Locate and mark areas where ambient dose rates are:
      • > 100 mSv/h — dangerous area where only life saving actions should be performed and time of staying there limited to < 30 min
      • > 0.1 mSv/h (100 µSv/h) — boundary of inner cordoned area
    • Screen public groups and locations, e.g. hospitals, to locate and isolate sources with ambient dose rates above 100 µSv/h at 1m
    • Support decontamination of people and equipment (see instructions for public decontamination and monitoring/decontamination of vehicles and equipment)
    • Support the response contamination control area (see instructions for response contamination control)
    • Support actions of law enforcement/security team and FEMT
    • Support actions of local hospital (see local hospital's action guide).
  • Fill in a registration form for each person monitored as appropriate
  • Monitor for gamma, beta and alpha radiation (as equipped) and immediately inform the radiological assessor/team if any alpha radiation is detected
  • Direct media inquiries to the PIO
  • Keep track of your dose or activities for future reconstruction of the individual dose
  • Fully brief radiological assessor/team upon their arrival