Radiation Emergencies: A Nurse Can Lead

Hospitals must be prepared to respond quickly to radioactive accidents or terrorist events. The response challenge is to provide appropriate and prompt care, and preserve forensic evidence. Radioactive bombs result in a twofold kill area: the immediate area and the area with long-term contamination from radioactivity. This requires the specialized skills of radiology nurses. Ineffective response activities endanger both the victims of disasters and the responders.