CRCPD: Reducing and Responding to the Threat

1
CRCPD Reducing and Responding to the Threat

• Ruth E. McBurney, CHP
• Conference of Radiation Control
• Program Directors

2
Outline

• Who is CRCPD?
• Activities related to homeland security
• Increased security at facilities
• State radiological emergency response guidance
  and databases
• Radiological Dispersion Device (Dirty Bomb)
  Response Handbook
• Source Control and Threat Reduction Project
• How we can assist local first responders in
  radiation detection and response

3
Who is CRCPD?

• Non-profit organization established to
• provide a common forum for the exchange of
  information among state and local radiation
  control programs
• provide a mechanism for states to communicate
  with the federal government on radiation
  protection issues.

4
CRCPDs Mission

• To promote consistency in addressing and
  resolving radiation protection issues.
• To encourage high standards of quality in
  radiation protection programs.
• To provide leadership in radiation safety and
  education.

5
Major Types of Membership

• Director Members
• State local radiation control program
  directors
• Associate Members
• Staff of radiation control programs in the U.S.
• Affiliate Members
• Anyone having an interest in CRCPD and radiation
  protection

6
Organizational Chart
Membership
Board of Directors
Radiation Advisory
SSR Council
Healing Arts Council
Environmental Nuclear Council
General Council
Homeland Security/ Emergency Response Council
OED
7
Homeland Security/Emergency Response Activities

• National Monitoring System for assessing
  environmental radiation levels
• Fostering partnerships and developing operational
  guides to support emergency preparedness and
  response
• Emergency scenario preparation
• Models and Tools for Response to RDD/IND
• Emergency response planning

8
HS-5 CHAIR Adela Salame-Alfie, Ph.D.

• MEMBERS
• Frieda Fisher-Tyler, CIH (DE)
• Patricia Gardner (NJ)
• Aubrey Godwin, CHP (AZ)
• Kathleen (Cass) Kaufman (CA)
• Marinea Mehrhoff (IA)
• Kathleen McAllister (MA)

• ADVISORS
• Karen Beckley (NV)
• Cynthia Costello, CHP (NY)
• Don Dale (LANL, NM)
• Robert Greger, CHP (CA)
• Margaret Henderson (TX)
• Robert Gallaghar (MA)
• Debra McBaugh (WA)
• Victor Anderson (CA)

Interactive Working Group Resources Frieda
Fisher-Tyler, HS-EI chair 05/05 Debra McBaugh,
HS-3 chair 05/05 Kim Steves, HS-4 chair 05/05
Resources CDC Robert Whitcomb EPA
Bonnie Gitlin FEMA John Dixon
9

• WHAT IS HS-5?
• Part of the Homeland Security - Emerging Issues
  (HS-EI) Workgroup
• Original Charter
• To develop an RDD Flowchart with contact
  information and a Companion Handbook

10

• TARGET AUDIENCE
• First Responders with various degrees of
  radiological experience (from none to advanced)

11
FIRST PRODUCT THE RDD POCKET GUIDE
INSERT PICTURE OF CARD
12
FLOWCHART OF ACTIONS
Remember Saving Lives is a Priority!
13
(No Transcript)
14
Guidelines for RDD Response
15
(No Transcript)
16
THE RDD HANDBOOK
17
What is the RDD Handbook?

• Companion to the RDD pocket guide
• Developed by the Conference of Radiation Control
  Program Directors (CRCPD) HS-5 Task Force
• Developed for state and local responders who may
  be called upon to respond to a radiological
  dispersal device or dirty bomb
• Training and Reference tool for Responders

18

• Focuses on the first 12 hours
• Assumes local/state responders will be available
  within 12 hours (Usually only a phone call
  away)

19
Why did we put it together?

• Ability to deal with radiological incidents at
  the local and state level varies across the
  country
• Some states/localities have very advanced plans
  (especially those that have nuclear power plants)
  to deal with radiological emergencies, while
  others do not

20
What is the purpose of the Handbook?

• Provide a training and reference tool for
  responders
• Also to be used by local and state response
  officials
• Responders include Fire, EMS, Police, HAZMAT
• EMTs and Hospital staff may use it as a guide for
  response activities

21
Highlights of the Handbook

• Flowchart
• Definition of Radiation Zones aka the
• Bulls Eye
• Suggested Activities for each zone
• Turn back exposure rates
• Decontamination Guidelines
• Conducting Radiation Surveys
• Forms
• Contacts (Local/State/Federal)

22
The Flowchart

• Quick reference
• Lists minimum activities that must take place for
  appropriate response
• Jogs responders memory
• Includes rules of thumb

23
FLOWCHART OF ACTIONS
Remember Saving Lives is a Priority!
24
The Flowchart
Establish Incident Command
YES
Radiation Detected or Suspected?
NO
Follow established protocols
25
The Flowchart
Control scene Establish safe area
YES
Rescue Injured
Contact Local/State Radiation Control Program
26
The Flowchart
SEND HOME
27
The Flowchart
Rescue Injured
REMEMBER SAVING LIVES IS A PRIORITY
Start triage and rapid treatment
Treat without regard for contamination
Transport to hospital
YES
NO
Decontaminate
YES
Contaminated?
Register and release for medical treatment
NO
28
The Flowchart
Contact Local/State Radiation Control Program
In Tennessee 24-Hour 615/741-0001

• Measure radiation levels (alpha, beta,gamma,
  neutrons)
• Set up and verify radiation boundaries
• Verify/redefine contaminated area
• Establish dose guidelines and dosimetry
• Identify radioisotopes
• Assist in monitoring and decontamination of
  victims (including first responders)
• Provide support to medical personnel
• Provide support to Public Information Officer

29
Rules of Thumb

• For outdoor explosions, most of the airborne
  radioactive dust will have settled to the ground
  within about 10 minutes
• In the absence of any other information, evacuate
  to 500 meters (1650 ft) from the detonation site
  in all directions
• Check batteries and turn on your radiation
  detection instrument prior to arriving at the
  incident scene
• You may not be able to perform decontamination
  onsite if a large number of people are affected
• Removing outer clothing can eliminate the
  majority of contamination
• For large incidents, it is not necessary to
  retain runoff

30
Other Procedures in Handbook

• Establishment of Incident Command
• Radiation measurement when radiation is detected
  or suspected
• Personal dosimeter use, units, and calibration
• Controlling the scene
• Establishing safe areas and boundaries or
  decision points

31
(No Transcript)
32
Other Guidelines

• Rescuing the Injured
• Decontamination
• Surveying for Contamination
• Instructions to Workers
• Forms and Handouts
• Appendices

33
Appendices

• FLOW CHART (FULL SIZE)
• OVERVIEW OF THE TYPES OF RADIATION
• PRIMER ON RADIATION MEASUREMENT
• HOW TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN ALPHA, BETA AND
• GAMMA RADIATION USING A PANCAKE GM SURVEY METER
• EXPOSURE VS. CONTAMINATION
• GUIDANCE FOR ASSESSING INTERNAL CONTAMINATION
• HEALTH EFFECTS OF RADIATION EXPOSURE
• ACCUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
• RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM CONTACTS
• FEDERAL RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM CONTACTS
• INTERNET SITES FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• GLOSSARY

34
The RDD Handbook

• Does NOT apply to all situations that may be
• encountered by responders but
• Many of the concepts can be applied to other
• radiation incidents
• Does NOT include description of incident
• command or law enforcement activities but
• Assumes that all responders are familiar
• with ICS
• Does NOT include response to an IND

35
The Source Collection and Threat Reduction
Program (SCATR)

• To reduce the threat of commercial radioactive
  materials
• Discrete sealed sources
• In storage and/or unwanted
• Could be abandoned or diverted for misuse
• Five-year cooperative agreement with DOE

36
SCATR Program Objectives

• Identify users/licensees and others with unwanted
  sources of radiation in storage
• Collect data on sources and disposition
• Prioritize collection campaigns
• Ensure appropriate collection and disposition of
  identified sources of radiation
• Disseminate information on lessons learned

37
SCATR Program Tasks

• Outreach to user groups and industry
• Outreach to States and users/licensees
• Coordinate with Offsite Source Recovery Project
  at LANL to address all situations and collect
  data
• Prioritize collection campaigns

38
SCATR Program Tasks(continued)

• Ensure appropriate collection and disposition
• Continue CRCPD National Orphan Source Program,
  adoption agency, and identification of low-cost
  disposition options
• Work with States and LLW compacts to identify
  requirements and options
• Disseminate lessons learned through conferences,
  journals, etc.

39
Other Planned Activities in Emergency
Response/Homeland Security

• Continue with orphan source recovery (cooperative
  effort with NRC)
• RDD roundtable with Centers for Disease Control
• Strengthen communication among state agencies,
  hospital/medical groups regarding emergency
  preparedness
• Encourage use of CDC guidance documents
• Database of resources for emergency response
• Involvement in activities for source detection at
  DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
• Involvement in Nuclear Government Coordinating
  Council
• (interagency group working on preparedness and
  prevention)

40
In Summary

• CRCPD is active on several fronts
• Medical, industrial, and environmental radiation
  tools to assist regulatory agencies
• Emergency Planning
• Homeland Security
• CRCPD is a resource for unwanted sources
• CRCPD is a resource for radiological emergency
  preparedness and response