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Potassium Iodide and Potassium Iodate only help if the weapon contains iodine elements in ots composition. If there is no Iodine, there is no need for KaI pills.

So how does one know if there is iodine or not?

And if someone has one of those nukalerts (or similar), but no dosimeter, what would the consequences be?

A nuke alert would tell you radiation is above background limits and serve as a point defense mechanism to allow you to move to a safe area. It has a good use, but remember, some types of gypsum wallboard can be two to three times above background also. Use it as a field test mechanism and you will be fine.

Without detailed gamma scintillation capability or spectrum analysis capability, there is no knowing if Potassium Iodide is present. The Health Department or FRMAC will make public service announcements after lab tests to determine if KaI is needed, and direct people to take it.

If you have a radio or battery powered TV, listen for Emergency Broacast system announcements. If they direct it, take it.

remember-Potassium Iodate tastes better...KaI tastes like crap...trust me there

The potassium iodide pills are specifically for the thyroid and nothing else. You should be told (have batteries for your radio and know your local emergency stations) if it is appropriate to take them. The worst thing that can happen if you don't take them and the specific thyroid endangering radiation zaps you is that you will end up taking thyroid medicine for the rest of your life after some thyroid surgery.

Consider just getting a bottle of betadine scrub from your pharmacy (Hershey Medical Center had a study on this alternate way of getting the iodide) ...if you ever need it you can coat one arm from shoulder to hand and your body will absorb the right amount for your size. Betadine scrub is a rusty colored surgical scrub...if you ever had surgery and had some dark orange red stain around the suture site you've had it on you.

Very Important: If you have shellfish/shrimp allergies or lots of allergies in general, don't take the pills and don't use the betadine scrub until you speak with your physician. I have seen patients severely react to imaging contrast mediums containing iodide.

I am concerned folks think these pills are going to really protect them from all radiation...it is only a specific form and they only protect the thyroid (now if we can only prevent the cataracts from developing.)

And if someone has one of those nukalerts (or similar), but no dosimeter, what would the consequences be?

I thought the Nuk-Alert would tell you how much Rotegens you are being exposed to *at any given moment* via the # of "chirps" (plus or minus).

It would be up to the user (as I understand it) to keep track of your total exposure time. (Eg: if you're in the midst of 50R+, you DEFINITELY want to get out in < 3 hours to avoid total intake of 150R or more - which if I remember correctly [?] is where real health problems begin).

I do plan on ordering one of these (tomorrow) and maybe a CFM as well.