United States medical preparedness for nuclear and radiological emergencies

With the end of the Cold War in 1991, U.S. Government (USG) investments in radiation science and
medical preparedness were phased out; however, the events of 11 September, which involved a
terroristic attack on American soil, led to the re-establishment of funding for both radiation
preparedness and development of approaches to address injuries. Similar activities have also been
instituted worldwide, as the global threat of a radiological or nuclear incident continues to be a
concern. Much of the USG ’s efforts to plan for the unthinkable have centred on establishing clear
lines of communication between agencies with responsibility for triage and medical response, and
external stakeholders. There have also been strong connections made between those parts of the
government that establish policies, fund research, oversee regulatory approval, and purchase and
stockpile necessary medical supplies. Progress made in advancing preparedness has involved a number
of subject matter meeting...

Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - December 6, 2021 Category: Physics Authors: Andrea L DiCarlo, Mary J Homer and C Norman Coleman Source Type: research