Abstract

A working group of the SSK's "Emergency Management" and "Radiological Protection in Medicine" committees has revised volumes 4 "Medical procedures in the event of nuclear power plant accidents" and 32 "The radiation accident" of the series "Publications of the Commission on Radiological Protection" and summarised them in the recommendation "Radiation emergency medicine – handbook for medical care and training".

This handbook takes into account the requirements of the new radiation protection law as well as the scenarios in radiological and nuclear emergencies for which the Federal Government and the Länder are preparing. Events are considered that can lead to health impairments due to suspected or actually received radiation exposure, both for individuals and for a large number of people.

This handbook is also intended to serve as an operational guide. It can be used for the education, training and continuing education of radiation emergency physicians and other personnel, and as a knowledge base for all those involved in radiological emergency preparedness and response.

The handbook can support the operating staff in the acute accident situation and provides important information for clinical treatment. In addition to radiation basics, medical and psychosocial care is covered as well as organisational-technical aspects related to the various radiation (accident) scenarios. To facilitate application in the operational situation, important decision-making aids and summaries are highlighted in colour in the print.