Radiation disasters and children

• 2003

  Sign in to bookmark this resource.

  Sign in
PMID: 12777572DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.111.6.1455

---

Access Resources

• Journal ArticleEN

About

This article highlights the importance of pediatricians being prepared for radiation disasters, emphasizing the specific medical needs of children. It discusses various scenarios like nuclear weapon detonation, radioactive cloud from a nuclear power plant, and radionuclide dispersal. Children are more vulnerable to the short- and long-term consequences of radiation disasters due to their higher minute ventilation and increased cancer risk. The article emphasizes the critical role of pediatricians in planning for such disasters, including the distribution of potassium iodide for thyroid protection. Collaboration with public health authorities is essential to ensure children's safety in local radiation disaster planning.

---

Tags

Hazard: CBRNE

Audiences: Emergency Managers; Physicians

Emergency Management Stage: Response

Keywords: Child; Disaster Planning; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Potassium Iodide; Radiation Injuries; Radiation Protection; Radiation, Ionizing; Radioactive Fallout; Humans; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Radioactive Hazard Release

Institutions: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

---

More like this

Improving Disaster Preparedness for Children: A 75-Year Review in Pediatrics 2023 · American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Pediatric Pandemic Network (PPN) Decontamination: Disaster Management Resources 2023 · American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Joint Policy Statement—Guidelines for Care of Children in the Emergency Department 2009 · American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

---

The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only. It does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

---