Officials test preparedness for nuclear plant accident
| By Press Release, NBC17
County public health officials and the N.C. Center for Public Health Preparedness are teaming up to conduct a household survey of county residents who live in the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) of Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant. Public health staff and selected volunteers will conduct randomly selected door-to-door surveys within the county on Friday, September 17, and Saturday, September 18. In May 2010, potassium iodide (KI) was made available at no cost to all residents in the 10-mile EPZ. Potassium iodide (often called by its chemical symbol KI) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that can protect the thyroid if a person is exposed to radioactive iodine released during a nuclear power plant emergency. If taken within the appropriate time and at the appropriate dose, KI blocks the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine. Taking KI in such an event reduces the risk of thyroid cancer. The purpose of this survey is to determine the household coverage rate of that distribution effort and to assess knowledge of KI among residents within the EPZ. The survey results will be used to improve future KI distribution and education initiatives. Using census data and geographic information system (GIS) technology, 210 households within the 10-mile EPZ have been selected at random to participate in this survey. Public health staff and selected volunteers will visit each home for a 5-10 minute personal interview and enter responses into a handheld computer. The survey questions are designed to determine the public’s awareness of the May distribution campaign, preferences for receiving future information on KI, barriers to receiving KI, knowledge of appropriate personal use of KI, and basic personal information. All data collected in this survey are anonymous and will not be linked to any individual. Public health staff and volunteers will conduct the survey in Wake, Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Richard Rosselli, MPH, CPH, research associate, heads the project for the Institute. |
