Medical Response to a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency

This training course helps countries strengthen their preparedness to respond to emergencies involving radiation. It is based on the publication Generic Procedures for Medical Response during a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency (EPR- MEDICAL 2005) and other publications co-sponsored by the IAEA and World Health Organization.

This course targets professionals involved in:

• response at the scene, including medical first responders, emergency medical technicians, ambulance attendants and other medical personnel who may be called to respond to a radiological emergency or emergencies at nuclear facilities;
• response at the hospital, including emergency physicians, nursing staff, support staff and medical administrators who may be called upon to manage critical care for overexposed, contaminated or potentially contaminated patients;
• advanced medical care, including medical specialists who manage the care for severely exposed or internally contaminated patients.

The nine-day programme comprises three modules that provide guidance on early diagnosis, general management, treatment and other elements related to the organisation of the medical response. Among topics covered are: responding first at the scene, managing overexposed or contaminated patients; protecting responders; transferring patients; setting up the emergency area; diagnosis and radiological considerations and advanced techniques and methods to diagnose, assess and treat overexposed individuals.

Member States desiring training in this area should send an official request to the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre.