What should I do?
The main objectives of the first response to a radiological emergency are to:
- promptly perform all reasonable actions to protect the public from radiological and non-radiological (e.g. psychological) health effects
- protect emergency personnel during response operations
The first response also has the following objectives:
- gather and protect information that can be useful in managing health effects, for law enforcement purposes and in preventing similar emergencies in the future
- establish and maintain public trust in the response
- provide a basis for an extended response
In general, the actions to be taken in the first response to a radiological emergency are very similar to those taken in emergencies involving other hazardous materials, such as chemicals.
Below you can find action guides and task instructions for the various actors that would be involved in the first response to a radiological emergency, including emergency service personnel, local officials and supporting organizations.
Response actions of the Incident Commander:
- Response actions to a general radiological emergency
- Response actions to a lost or stolen potentially dangerous source
Response actions of other members of the first responder team:
- Resource coordinator's actions
- Fire brigade's actions
- Emergency medical service's actions
- Law enforcement/security team's actions
- Forensic evidence management team's actions
- Public information officer/team's actions
- First responder monitor's actions
Response actions of off-scene responders:
Note that these guides have been designed for a generic response organization. In addition, some of the actions suggested may not be appropriate and practical in every type of radiological emergency.
