Models of caregiving in nuclear accidents. Enrico M. Staderini.

Models of caregiving in nuclear accidents.

Enrico M. Staderini

Radioactivity safety and securityGeneva, 30 August 2011

Models of caregivingin nuclear accidents

Enrico M. StaderiniHaute Ecole d'Ingénierie et de Gestion du Canton de Vaud – HES-SO

Western Switzerland University of Applied SciencesRoute de Cheseaux, 1

CH-1400 Yverdon les Bains (Vaud) [email protected]

Geneva, 30 August 2011 Radioactivity safety and security

• Not so long time ago, radioactive elements were considered curative…


• Now radioactivity is considered with a bit too much attention…

Ouch! Those cosmic rays are killing me…


• An incredibly complicated problem


• Place of accident• nuclear power plant / military facility• possibly restricted access

• hospital/research nuclear facility• neighbouring (isolated-populated area)• pre-existent health facilities• pre-existent nuclear accident health

care facilities (included accident plans)• Efficacy of health care to affected people


• irradiation vs. contamination• kind of irradiation/contamination

• released activity• physical/biological behaviour of

radioactive contaminant• biological effects of irradiation

• Seriousness of health consequences in the short or long period

• Need for evacuating people


• number of affected people• professional people• general population

• Level and efficacy of health care• Level of problems in evacuating people


• affected area• confined area• open area• accessible / not accessible area• limited / unlimited area

• Possibility of delivering health care on site• Need of evacuating people


• affected resources and infrastructures• water supply• food supply• health care facilities• roads• telecommunication systems

• Decision about area extension or number of people to evacuate

• Problems in alerting or caring for the affected population


• what’s the difference between an accident and a disaster?• number of people affected• area extension affected• infrastructures affected• time required to restore to normality• costs to restore to normality


• what are the differences between a nuclear disaster and a “conventional” disaster?• increased / unpredictable risk for

caregivers and rescuers• more difficult rescue operations

(due to increased level of safety required)

• longer time consequences• higher psychological impact on

populations and the general public


• how telemedicine can help in the case of a nuclear disaster or a nuclear accident?


• prerequisite for telemedicine is a telecommunication infrastructure• use existing infrastructure (if it

survived the accident)• fast deploy new infrastructure

(mobile phone base stations)• one way communication (alerting,

counselling, giving evacuation directions)

• two way communication (caring and specific help)

• Plan ahead!!!


• If a thing may go wrong it will go.• (Murphy’s rule)


• What may go wrong:• (never an exhaustive list)


• telecommunication facilities destroyed• electric power discontinued• emergency power not available or not usable• telecommunication facilities contaminated• telecommunication facilities not reachable• people trapped under rubbles (or within shelters)• shortage / unavailability of technical personnel • common people not able to establish a link• long range telecommunication systems not

available (satellite TV broadcasting may be)• shortage / unavailability of health personnel• aged people with cognitive problems


• Any good news?• No.


• a general purpose telecommunication alert system still unavailable in most countries (at best they still rely on sirens)

• a general (robust) telemedicine infrastructure are still unavailable as well

• robust emergency plans for the general population are still based on eighteen century demography

• standards for telemedicine operation still missing despite the number of mobile phones is approaching that of the population on the planet

• still not addressing the cognitive performances of the general population


• So what?• Only good news:

• We know the risks!


• “Perhaps radium has something to do with these troubles, but it cannot be affirmed with certainty.”

• From the letter of Marie Sklodowska Curie to her sister Bronya (November 1920)

• Marie Curie died of aplastic anemia on July 4th 1934.

• Her papers from the 1890s are still considered too dangerous to handle, even her cookbook is highly radioactive. They are kept in lead-lined boxes, and those who wish to consult them must wear protective clothing.


Thanks for your attention

Enrico M. StaderiniHaute Ecole d'Ingénierie et de Gestion du Canton de Vaud – HES-SO

Western Switzerland University of Applied SciencesRoute de Cheseaux, 1

CH-1400 Yverdon les Bains (Vaud) [email protected]

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Models of caregiving in nuclear accidents. Enrico M. Staderini.

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