ASTRO's Role in Radiation Disaster Management

After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, ASTRO recognized a need to involve radiation oncologists and other medical personnel in emergency preparedness measures in the event of a nuclear/radiologic attack or disaster. Because radiation oncologists are the physicians most thoroughly trained to understand the effects of radiation exposure on healthy and malignant cells, ASTRO felt that it was appropriate that our members become one of the principal resources in this effort.

To that end, ASTRO worked with the American College of Radiology and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine to create a radiological terrorism primer to serve as an educational tool for radiation oncology and radiology professionals. The primer, Disaster Preparedness for Radiology Professionals, summarizes current information on preparing for a radiation emergency, handling contaminated persons, dose assessment and radiation exposure health effects.

Radiation Event Medical Management

Radiation Event Medical Management was produced by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Office of Planning and Emergency Operations, in cooperation with the National Library of Medicine, Division of Specialized Information Services, with subject matter experts from the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many US and international consultants.

This Web site was developed to provide guidance for physicians and allied professionals about clinical diagnosis and treatment during mass casualty radiological/nuclear events. REMM provides just-in-time, evidence-based, usable information with sufficient background and context to make complex issues understandable to those without formal radiation medicine expertise. Additionally, this web-based information that is also downloadable in advance, so that it would be available during an event if the internet is not accessible.

To visit the REMM Web site, click here.