Fowinkle E W, Sell S H, Wolle R H
Public Health Rep. 1983 Mar-Apr;98(2):123-6.
Tennessee public health officials made a decision to predistribute potassium iodide tablets (KI) to householders in the vicinity of a nuclear powerplant. The tablets would be stored until needed in the event of a radiation emergency. The officials believed that it was important to have the option available as a means of protecting nearby residents. KI, ingested before or soon after exposure to radioactive iodine, can act as a thyroid blocker to protect the gland from accepting further iodine and, therefore, the radiation. A pilot project was undertaken to deliver, door to door, a package that contained KI tablets in sufficient quantity to supply a starter dose to each member of households within a 5-mile radius of the Sequoyah nuclear powerplant near Chattanooga. The package consisted of a vial of 14 130-mg tablets and a package insert from the manufacturer enclosed in a larger vial with a childproof cap. Home visitors who delivered the vials were professionals from the local public health departments, especially trained to answer questions about the project. About 66 percent of 5,591 homes accepted the medication. Extensive coverage of the project by information media was helpful in explaining local emergency plans as well as the KI distribution to the public.
田纳西州公共卫生官员决定向核电站附近的住户预先分发碘化钾片（KI）。这些药片将被储存起来，直到在辐射紧急情况下需要时使用。官员们认为，提供这一选择作为保护附近居民的一种手段很重要。在接触放射性碘之前或之后不久摄入KI，可以起到甲状腺阻滞剂的作用，保护甲状腺不吸收更多的碘，从而免受辐射。开展了一个试点项目，挨家挨户地递送一个装有足够数量KI片的包裹，为查塔努加附近的塞阔亚核电站半径5英里范围内每户家庭的每个成员提供起始剂量。包裹包括一小瓶14片130毫克的药片以及制造商提供的包装说明书，装在一个带有儿童安全盖的较大药瓶中。递送药瓶的家访人员是当地公共卫生部门的专业人员，他们经过专门培训，可回答有关该项目的问题。在5591户家庭中，约66%接受了药物。信息媒体对该项目的广泛报道有助于向公众解释当地的应急计划以及KI的分发情况。
