ORAU Supports CDC Population Monitoring Program to Improve Public Health Response to Radiological Incidents

The current capacity to identify, screen and monitor members of the public who may be exposed to radiation, as a result of an unexpected nuclear or radiological event such as an act of terrorism, is limited.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) help prepare communities for population monitoring—a process that begins soon after a radiation incident is reported and continues until all potentially affected people have been monitored and evaluated for:

• Needed medical treatment
• Presence of radioactive contamination on the body or clothing
• Intake of radioactive materials into the body
• Removal of external or internal contamination (decontamination)
• Radiation dose received and the resulting health risk from the exposure
• Long-term health effects

The CDC looked to Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) for assistance in developing a comprehensive population monitoring guide to assist communities in preparing for a timely and adequate response to such emergencies.

Based on roundtable discussions with local, state, regional and federal agencies as well as health organizations and personnel, ORAU worked closely with the CDC to help develop a population monitoring guide that serves as a tool for public health officials and emergency preparedness planners at the state and local level.

The guide helps authorities:

• Evaluate their emergency response plan
• Identify and prioritize staffing and training needs
• Identify local, state and federal partners
• Address elements that are critical to emergency response planning, especially within the first few hours of the incident and prior to federal assistance