title: Enhancing nuclear emergency preparedness: Vermont's distribution program for potassium iodide.
abstract: On January 31, 2002, Vermont's health commissioner requested potassium iodide (KI) for individuals in the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone of the nuclear power facility. Vermont's KI distribution program emphasized public information about the role, risks, and benefits of KI. Predistribution ensured that individuals could receive KI in a 0- to 4-hour time period, to provide maximum protection. Five months after the program began, more than 1,000 individuals had received KI, and 3,000-4,000 KI doses have been distributed in schools. Efforts are ongoing to identify barriers to participation, provide public education, and evaluate KI distribution efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Jan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: deFlorio
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCandless
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D011193:Potassium Iodide / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D023481:Terrorism; D037041:United States Government Agencies; D014707:Vermont
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D011193:Potassium Iodide