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Radiation sickness - Treatment

Alternative Names

Radiation poisoning; radiation injury

First Aid:

  1. Check the person's breathing and pulse.
  2. Start CPR, if necessary.
  3. Remove the person's clothing and place the items in a sealed container. This stops ongoing contamination.
  4. Vigorously wash body with soap and water.
  5. Dry the body and wrap with soft, clean blanket.
  6. Call for emergency medical help or take the person to nearest emergency medical facility if you can do so safely
  7. REPORT EXPOSURE TO EMERGENCY OFFICIALS.

If symptoms occur during or after medical radiation treatments:

  1. Tell the health care provider or seek medical treatment.
  2. Handle affected areas gently.
  3. Treat symptoms or illnesses as recommended by the doctor.

Do Not:

  • DO NOT remain in area where exposure occurred.
  • DO NOT apply ointments to burned areas.
  • DO NOT remain in contaminated clothing.
  • DO NOT hesitate to seek emergency medical treatment.
  • Reviewed last on: 1/12/2011
  • Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Feldman R. Radiation injury. In: Schaider JJ, Hayden SR, Wolfe RE, Barkin RM, Rosen P, eds. Rosen and Barkin’s 5-Minute Emergency Medicine Consult. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007.

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