Typically asked questions
This page contains typical questions asked by the public in a radiological emergency and suggested answers.
Note that the answers are general in nature and must be revised based on the emergency and on local conditions and arrangements.
- Who is in charge?
- What can I do to ensure that my family and I are safe now?
- Is my family safe now? What could be the consequences for my health?
- Why is it safe to be outside the safety boundary around the site of an emergency?
- What is contamination and is it dangerous? Are the food, water, milk and other products safe?
- I was monitored and contamination was found. Am I safe?
- I am pregnant — what are the dangers for my baby?
- Why are higher doses for the public acceptable in this emergency rather than during the normal operation of a nuclear facility?
- How can I find out what dose I may have received and what it means to my health?
- Immediately following the emergency I was checked for contamination and I was told to change my clothes, take a shower, and listen for official instructions; what am I listening for?
Who is in charge?
[Insert name] is responsible for coordinating the joint response to this emergency. The official in charge is [insert name of official source of information and recommendations]. For further information, the public should contact [name and phone number or website address].
What can I do to ensure that my family and I are safe now?
You should follow the directions from [name of official source of recommendations]. Currently you are advised to [summarize current recommendations, see Instruction 3]. You should also be careful when considering the assessments and recommendations from non official sources. In the past such assessments and recommendations have resulted in people taking actions that were not justified and have done more harm than good.
Is my family safe now? What could be the consequences for my health?
Based on experience from past emergencies, it is very unlikely that anyone, including unborn children, has been exposed to a radiation level that will result in any detectable health effects. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to conduct a further evaluation to determine if someone needs medical treatment or follow-up. Therefore some people may be asked to come in for a further assessment. Being called in for such assessment is a precaution and does not mean that you are at undue risk. It is important to realize that assessing the risk from a radiological emergency is highly specialized and can only be performed by someone with experience in this area.
Why is it safe to be outside the safety boundary around the site of an emergency?
During an emergency, initial measurements are taken to determine the areas in which people can safely remain. These measurements consider the immediate effects possible from the levels of radiation present. The boundary for any evacuation areas is established using criteria to ensure that people outside this area remain safe until further tests are performed. This includes considering children playing on the ground and pregnant women. Those living very close to such boundaries are safe from immediate effects in the short term. However, it would be prudent to [list recommendations to the people outside the inner cordoned area, see Instruction 3]. Over a longer period, some of the areas near the boundary may require further measures, such as decontamination or brief evacuation, to reduce the risk of longer term effects from the cumulative exposure to low levels of radiation. In order to determine whether any such measures are needed, teams may be sampling and monitoring for radioactive contamination in the area. This does not mean that the area is unsafe; ongoing monitoring provides officials with the information needed to determine whether or not further measures might be needed in the area.
What is contamination and is it dangerous? Are the food, water, milk and other products safe?
As a result of a radiological emergency, radioactive dust or liquid could get on the ground, products, food, in the water or even on a person. This is called contamination. The levels of contamination that could represent a health hazard would be very high, many times the amounts of radioactive material normally found in nature. The hazard from any contamination can only be determined based on criteria developed by experts and measurements taken by trained personnel. The criteria we are using to assess contamination are established well below the levels that could result in any health effects. (Therefore based on our current evaluation the following [list] are safe. (or) We are currently carrying on our evaluation and will inform you immediately on the results; but until notified you should [insert recommendation].)
I was monitored and contamination was found. Am I safe?
People who may have been contaminated as a result of an emergency are monitored to assess the risk. Very low levels of radioactive materials can be detected by the instruments used to monitor for contamination. The levels of contamination that could represent a health hazard would be very high: many times the minimum amounts of radioactive material that can be detected by monitoring instruments or that are normally found in nature. The criteria used to determine if a person is contaminated to levels which warrant some actions (for example, showering and changing clothing) were established well below the levels that could result in any health effects. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to conduct a further evaluation to determine if someone needs medical treatment or follow-up. Therefore some people may be asked to come in for a further assessment. Being called in for such an assessment is a precaution and does not mean that you are at undue risk. It is important to realize that assessing the risk from a radiological emergency is highly specialized and can not be performed by anyone without experience in this area.
I am pregnant — what are the dangers for my baby?
It requires very high levels of exposure to radiation to cause even a small chance that the baby will be affected. These levels would be at least a million times what you normally receive from natural sources of radiation in an hour. Determining the risk to the baby is very complex and does not depend solely on the levels of exposure to radiation. Local officials have criteria to identify those who should be assessed. Being called in for such assessment is a precaution and does not mean that your baby or you are at undue risk. The risk to your baby can only be assessed by an expert with experience in this field.
Why are higher doses for the public acceptable in this emergency rather than during the normal operation of a nuclear facility?
Around a nuclear facility, such as a nuclear power plant, the dose limits for the public are established well below levels at which any health effects, including cancers, would be seen in anyone, including pregnant woman or children. This is done to ensure that the facility is operated safely and that an accident is unlikely to cause any health concern. During an emergency dose criteria are established that also ensures that all members of the public are safe. The dose criteria used to decide on the actions taken during an emergency are established based on many factors such as ensuring those that are at risk in the near term are protected first.
How can I find out what dose I may have received and what it means to my health?
We recognize that everyone is concerned about their health and the health of their loved ones. It is very early in the development of the emergency situation and it will be some time before an accurate assessment of the possible health consequences of the emergency can be made. It is important to realize that assessing the health risk from a radiological emergency is a highly specialized task and the risk can only be assessed by those who have experience in the field. We know that this emergency has caused considerable anxiety and you would like definitive answers now. But we also realize that it is important that any assessment be as good as possible. Therefore, we will inform every one of their risks and actions you should take as soon as possible. In some cases, it may be necessary to conduct a further evaluation to determine if someone needs medical treatment or follow-up. Therefore, some people may be asked to come in for a further assessment. Being called in for such assessment is a precaution and does not mean that you are at undue risk.
Immediately following the emergency I was checked for contamination and I was told to change my clothes, take a shower, and listen for official instructions; what am I listening for?
The first responders screened people for external contamination using hand held instruments to determine who needed immediate decontamination to prevent serious injury. In the next phase of the response, specialists trained in radiological assessment determine the specific type, form and quantity of radioactive materials present at the scene. Based on their analysis they may recommend that additional monitoring or evaluations be performed to better determine the dose received by specific individuals.
Some people may be requested to present themselves for additional monitoring and evaluation. The request could be made by a public official using local radio or television if large numbers of people were involved, or you could be individually contacted if only a small number of people were exposed to the radiological hazard.