Children as vulnerable populations in radiological/nuclear events: discussion scenarios

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Pediatric Care
• Radiological and Nuclear Preparedness

Background:

• A 2010 workshop convened experts in medicine, physics, and child care to assess Canada's readiness for managing children during radiological/nuclear (R/N) events.
• Discussions focused on existing strengths and weaknesses in protocols for treating and managing contaminated or exposed children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify deficiencies in Canadian planning for pediatric R/N event management.
• To propose improvements and revisions for better child-specific emergency response protocols.

Main Methods:

• A workshop was conducted in Ottawa, Canada, on June 1-2, 2010.
• Expert participants discussed scenarios involving the malicious use of radiological materials, focusing on emergency response for children.
• Strengths and shortcomings of current Canadian practices were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Management of children during R/N events differs significantly from adult management.
• Existing Canadian documentation lacks specific protocols and procedures for pediatric R/N event response.
• Deficiencies in current planning were identified.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for developing and implementing distinct protocols for managing children during R/N events in Canada.
• The workshop identified key areas for improvement in emergency preparedness for pediatric radiological and nuclear incidents.