Summary
Poisoning with polonium-210: Management of a radioactive incident with multiple victims
Affiliation of the authors
DOI
Quote
Medina Álvarez JC, Díaz-Guijarro Hayes J, Gómez Díez JC, Quiroga Mellado J. Poisoning with polonium-210: Management of a radioactive incident with multiple victims. Emergencias. 2008;20:54-63
Summary
In 2006 one person died as a consequence of 210Po poisoning. This lethal poisoning resulted
in spreading of radioactive contamination which affected thousand people. Health
authorities developed a special plan to take control over contamination impact, to
assist victims and to provide public information. This case was characterized for delayed
detection of release, a huge amount of patients with unknown radiation level and a large
geographic area of radiation spreading.
Triage by phone and new computer and information technology resulted useful in the
management of this type of event. The present study evaluates several detection characteristics,
triage model and public information management.