Lab gets ‘glowing’ reviews for radiological training
Participants came together to review field kits, sample collection procedures, learn how to put on and take off personal protective equipment, improve understanding about each team member’s essential role in emergency response, and develop and maintain relationships within the team to ensure the best possible outcome in the event of a real emergency. As part of their training, they worked with a florescent powder that glows under ultraviolet lights to show how easily non-visible contamination can spread.
The use of the florescent powder brought a little fun to the exercise of learning about a response to a serious situation. The attendees were able to take away helpful training that hopefully they will never have to use.
SHL maintains its own dedicated Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT). RERT’s mission is to evaluate the extent to which radioactive materials have been released from an incident. The team also works with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division to prepare for the unlikely event of an act of terrorism or an accident at one of the three nuclear power plants in or near Iowa.
Those interested in learning about upcoming training opportunities may contact Beth Hochstedler at beth-hochstedler@uiowa.edu.
