Discovering an Incident: How do you know a radiation incident has occurred? (Text Version)

1. Is it a radiologicalor nuclear incident?
2. How do you know a radiation incident has occurred?
   • Obvious in real time
     • Information from local, State, Federal authorities
     • News report
     • Routine, real time radiation monitoring of
       • Industrial radiation sources
       • Planned transport of radiation sources
       • Medical facility radiation sources
     • Personal observation
     • Examples
       • Nuclear explosion
       • Transportation incident
       • Medical facility incident
       • Nuclear power plant / nuclear reactor incident or sabotage
       • Industrial radiation source incident
   • Not obvious in real time
     • Evaluating an explosive incident, HAZMAT team tests for and finds radiation.
     • Monitoring of water, soil, food, air reveals unexpected radiation.
     • Recognizing over time a cluster of victims with radiation-linked clinical signs and symptoms
     • Locating a radiation source outside of expected places, e.g., subway, sports field
     • Examples
       • Radiological Dispersal Device
         • Explosive incident subsequently found to have radiation
         • Non-explosive incident: radiation dispersion into food, water, soil, air
         • Hidden radiological source: Radiological Exposure Device
       • Malicious or unintentional industrial, nuclear reactor, medical facility, or transportation incident discovered after the fact
3. More details on identifying types of radiation incident

See also: Describing an Incident: Definition, Severity, Phases, Timeline