Amanda Lisher

DOS 772: Clinical Practicum II

Service Learning Journal
Professional Service: Radiation Response Volunteer Corps Training
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) was one of the first organizations
to be awarded grant funds for the establishment of a Radiation Response Volunteer Corps
(RRVC). The mission of the RRVC is to organize and train a group of radiation professionals to
aid in protecting the health of the citizens of Kansas by assisting with population monitoring
during a radiation incident. Radiation incidents include any release of radioactive materials used
for industrial, military, or medical purposes, transportation incidents involving the spill of
radioactive materials, acts of terrorism involving nuclear materials, and industrial accidents.
Wolf Creek Generating Station is a nuclear power plant located on 10,000 acres near central
Kansas. The possibility of a radioactive event is very real for our state. The radiation
professionals at KDHE are tasked with ensuring the safe operation of this facility, including
executing routine disaster and preparedness drills. In the event of a radiation incident, local and
state resources would become overwhelmed by the large numbers of individuals seeking
information and evaluation. At such a time, the RRVC would be called upon to operate
Community Reception Centers, providing first aid, contamination screening, dose assessment
and decontamination activities for the general population.
The RRVC consists of over one hundred individuals from various radiation and public health
backgrounds. I became an RRVC volunteer in 2014. On June 12, 2015, I participated in RRVC
training in Kansas City, Kansas. The training covered several key aspects of radiation safety and
monitoring, including dose limits, risk communication and stress management, survey meter
operations, and decontamination procedures for both people and domestic animals. There were
several hands-on activities, including the proper donning and doffing of personal protective
equipment, checking individuals for contamination using a Ludlum 2401-P survey meter, and
setting up a mobile portal monitor. A portal monitor is a free-standing unit that has scintillation
detectors spaced throughout. It is a bit like a walk-through metal detector, but it senses radiation.

Portal monitors would be set up at the entrance to a Community Reception Center, to help with
triage of the general population. If the monitor detects radiation on an individual, that person
would be sent to decontamination and dose monitoring areas.
I really enjoy volunteering with RRVC. I have always enjoyed helping people, and I feel I can be
very level-headed in a crisis. My husband is a firefighter-EMT, and he gets called to help with
any number of emergencies across the state. As a medical professional, I have always wanted to
volunteer to help in an emergency situation, but I did not think there was a place for a radiation
therapist on such a team. My skill set is somewhat limited in that respect! When I heard about
the RRVC, I was so excited to finally find a place where my experience and skills could be
useful. One of the things we discussed in training is that radiation professionals are valuable in a
nuclear emergency, even if all we do is talk with people. Just the term radiation evokes feelings
of unease and fear in most people. My knowledge makes me uniquely able to explain sources of
radiation, how radiation works, and to hopefully calm someones fears. My radiation training
also makes me most suitable for handling survey meters, interpreting dose, and understanding
the risks associated with radiation contamination. Even something like the concept of ALARA
(as low as reasonably achievable), which is a routine part of my day, is foreign to many first
responders. Radiation is my specialtyI have the knowledge, the training, and the compassion
to help in a time of need. And finally, I have found a place where I can put my skills to good use!
One of the things that sticks with me the most is an image used in the training session. It was a
photograph of the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. The presenter asked, What
if there were radioactive materials in the truck that exploded? I realize this is an extreme
example, but it is unfortunately a part of our reality these days. Terrorism is a real threat, both
domestic and international. I hope my services are never needed in such a serious crisis, but I
will be proud to provide them if they are.

In this photograh, we are practicing setting up the

portal monitor.

In this image, we are practicing using the survey

meter to find hidden dummy sources. (Hint--it's in
my front right pocket!)

In this demonstration, I am testing to see if the alpha particles

emitted by FiestaWare will be detected by the scintillation detectors.

Kansas Radiation Control Program

Radiation Response Volunteer Corps (RRVC)
The Kansas Radiation Control Program is developing a registry for radiation professionals who would be willing to
receive training and be included on a list of volunteers willing to perform population monitoring during incidents
involving radiation. The registry is called the Radiation Response Volunteer Corps (RRVC). Volunteers would have the
opportunity to receive training, participate in drills and serve as a resource in the event of a radiological incident.

Radiological Incidents
A nuclear/radiological incident may result from a deliberate act, an accident, or general mismanagement, and
may center around different materials or industrial practices, including
Commercial nuclear facilities
Federal nuclear weapons facilities
Radioactive material sources, industrial uses, or technologically enhanced, naturally occurring radioactive material
Transportation incidents involving nuclear/radioactive material
Domestic nuclear weapons accidents
Foreign incidents involving nuclear or radioactive materials
Terrorism involving facilities or nuclear/radiological materials, including use of RDDs or INDs (Source-Nuc/Rad Annex, NRF)

Population Monitoring
Population monitoring is a process that begins soon after a radiation incident is reported and continues until all
potentially affected people have been monitored and evaluated for
Needed medical treatment
The presence of radioactive contamination on the body or clothing
The intake of radioactive materials into the body
The removal of external or internal contamination (decontamination)
The radiation dose received and the resulting health risk from the exposure
Long-term health effects

(Source- CDC website)

Resource Needs
Local and State radiological responders would be quickly overwhelmed by large numbers of citizens needing evaluation for
contamination
Thousands of radiation professionals in Kansas in every community throughout the state could volunteer to be trained to
assist local and state authorities in the event of a large radiological incident (Source- CRCPD)

Learn More
To learn more about the Radiation Response Volunteer Corps (RRVC) development, visit the website at
http://www.kdheks.gov/radiation/index.html. Or contact the RRVC team at rrvc@kdheks.gov or 785-296-1560.