Training courses are conducted around the world by NNSA’s Office of Emergency Operation's Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS)
- By Christopher Smith -
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), in cooperation Kuwait’s Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Medical Emergency Department, this week held a three-day workshop on radiological contamination and accident casualties aimed at further developing Kuwait’s strategic crisis response plan.
“As part of NNSA's comprehensive approach to nuclear and radiological incident response, emergency radiation medical training leverages decades of unique experience through our Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site," said NNSA Associate Administrator for Emergency Operations Joseph Krol. "We are pleased to be working with the Kuwait's Ministry of Health to strengthen cooperation on nuclear and radiological incident response."
These training courses are conducted around the world by NNSA’s Office of Emergency Operation's Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS). REAC/TS is tasked with medical management of radiation incidents and accidents. Since its inception, REAC/TS has responded to more than 2,450 calls for assistance and many more calls for information related to the medical management of radiological events.
The workshop in Kuwait will train over 50 MOH and Ministry of Defense physicians to respond and treat radiological casualties. Radioactive materials or radiation generating devices are used in construction, medicine and industry. As radiation-based technology finds its way into ever-increasing areas of use, it is imperative that the medical community is able to appropriately respond to potential accidents involving ionizing radiation. The training also prepares the medical response community to effectively respond to radiological terrorism.
Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science in the nation’s national security enterprise. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability, and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; reduces the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad. Visit http://www.nnsa.energy.gov/ for more information.