Disaster Preparedness - Radiology Response
Discussion
The ACR has been quite concerned for some time about the potential effects of radiation accidents on the public. Following the attacks on September 11, 2001 of New York’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the ACR, in collaboration with the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, convened a Task Force on Disaster Planning.
By Summer 2002, the task force had developed a primer for radiologists, radiation oncologists and medical physicists entitled: Disaster Preparedness for Radiology Professionals: Response to Radiological Terrorism (ACR, 2002). The booklet provides a quick reference in the event of a radiation disaster. It summarizes current information on preparing for a radiation emergency, handling contaminated persons, dose assessment and radiation exposure health effects. It also includes information on radiological findings related to agents of biological and chemical terrorism because radiologists may be involved in the diagnosis of conditions associated with such exposures. Updates to the primer are available on the ACR web site at www.acr.org.
In the wake of September 11, state and federal legislatures and administrative departments and agencies have been working to enhance disaster planning and response. The ACR and its membership will continue to be available to government entities in an effort to further protect the public.
The state of New York has purchased 1,000 copies of the primer which were distributed to all the hospitals in the state, each county health department and all state radiation protection agencies for the training of their personnel.
ACR Position
- The ACR will continue to work with state and federal legislators as well as first responders and radiology professionals to assure that patients and the public are protected in the case of a radiation accident or terrorist event.
Contact
For further information on disaster preparedness activity involving radiation, please contact Ariel González at the ACR offices (800) 227-5463, ext. 4488.