Simulation Study on Radiation Exposure of Emergency Medical Responders From Radioactively Contaminated Patients

Emergency medical responders (EMRs), who save victims in a radiation emergency, are at risk of radiation exposure. In this study, the exposure dose to EMRs assisting contaminated patients was estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation, and will produce data that contributes to EMR education and anxiety reduction. Using the Monte Carlo simulation, we estimated radiation doses for adult computational phantoms with radioactive contamination conditions radiation dosages were based on findings from previous studies. At the contamination condition corresponding to the typical upper limit of general GM survey meters, the radiation doses of EMRs were estimated to be less than μSv per hour. In case of a heavier contamination due to mishandling of an intense radioactive source with hundreds of GBq or more, their radiation doses would be close to 100 mSv per hour. The results have implied that the radiological accident with a highly radioactive source would expose EMR to the risk of significant radiation exposure exceeding the dose limit. It is thus crucial that the authority or other party who are responsible for the health of EMRs ensures that they shall have necessary education and training on the effective measures for protecting themselves from the possible, excessive radiation exposure.