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U.S. Postal Service - Equipping Workers with Potassium Iodide
Associated Press ^
| 12/02/02
| SIOBHAN McDONOUGH
Posted on 12/02/2002 6:54:07 PM PST by all4one
U.S. Postal Service equipping workers with potassium iodide pills in event of radiological emergency.
WASHINGTON - The latest equipment for American postal workers: potassium iodide pills to protect against thyroid cancer in the event of a radiological emergency.
The U.S. Postal Service said Monday that it was purchasing nearly 1.6 million pills for distribution to workers.
"It's a proactive approach regarding the safety, health and well-being of employees nationwide," said Sue Brennan, Postal Service spokeswoman. She would not say how much they paid for the pills.
Potassium iodide is the only medication for internal radiation exposure. It has just one use to prevent thyroid cancer by shielding the thyroid from radioactive iodine.
Potassium iodide would be helpful only if a dirty bomb used radioactive iodine instead of other radioactive substances, and then only for people close to the explosion.
The tablets are being offered to all 750,000 postal workers nationwide. Two tablets will be given to any employee who wants to have the pills in case of an emergency.
"Employees are out there in all of these communities nationwide and we wanted to err on the side of caution," Brennan said.
In January, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced that it would provide free stockpiles of potassium iodide to 33 states that had residents living within a 10-mile (16-kilometer) radius of one of the nation's 102 nuclear reactors.
As with any medication, overdoses of potassium iodide can be dangerous. Some people may experience allergic reactions, including nausea or rashes.
Phone calls to the American Postal Workers Union and National Association of Letter Carriers were not immediately returned.
TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: emergency; goverment; postalworkers; radiological; safety; terrorism
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Comment #21 Removed by Moderator
To: GirlShortstop
Right. Did you notice how everyone watching the consumer confidence were giddy over the results over the sales reported by walmart? If that doesn't tell a tale of an economy gone sour...
To: BrowningBAR
I got the nuke pills for my family. So should everyone here.Agreed. I've stocked them for years. My preference is for potassium iodate, not iodide.
23
posted on
12/02/2002 8:20:46 PM PST
by
templar
To: ASA Vet
Hey, don't even THINK about that early out...retirees can't get the freebies!
24
posted on
12/02/2002 8:21:31 PM PST
by
gracex7
To: BrowningBAR
>I got the nuke pills for my family.
>So should everyone here.
Bingo!
http://www.ki4u.com
I'd also recommend a 55 gallon barrel of potable water and enough food on hand for at least 30-60 days. A generator and some gas wouldn't be a bad idea. Nor would a firearm, ammo, and ability to use it.
To: Thisiswhoweare
Did you notice how everyone watching the consumer confidence were giddy over the results over the sales reported by walmart? Especially ... the Chinese?
26
posted on
12/02/2002 8:24:34 PM PST
by
templar
To: templar
Agreed. I've stocked them for years. My preference is for potassium iodate, not iodide. I purcahsed the iodide tablets; why do you prefer the iodate? Is it more effective?
Sui
27
posted on
12/02/2002 8:34:43 PM PST
by
suijuris
To: templar
A shame isn't it?
To: Semper911
www.ki4u.com is an reputable supplier. That is where I got mine and the owner is super nice. He will answer any question you many have.
To: suijuris
I purcahsed the iodide tablets; why do you prefer the iodate? Is it more effective? A little better for long term stability, less hygroscopic, been used for anti-rad for a longer time (Iodide pills were much harder to find than Iodate pills when I made my purchase, and I didn't want to have to deal with the crystalline iodide in an emergency situation). I immagine that either will work just as well. The idea, as I understand it, is to load the thyroid with iodine to the max so that it will not absorb radioactive iodine in a nuclear emergency situation.
30
posted on
12/02/2002 8:49:48 PM PST
by
templar
To: Bogey78O
"People with Thyroid Cancer that's who!" LOL!
31
posted on
12/02/2002 8:52:02 PM PST
by
blam
To: all4one
The Postal Service has other important duties, in case of a Nuclear Strike. Who else in this country, but Postal Carriers know where everyone lives. Since the first possibility of Nuke attack years ago, the PO has been tasked to make a census of the location of the people surviving an attack. (Been there and participated in the plans)
tbird1
32
posted on
12/02/2002 8:52:52 PM PST
by
tbird1
To: all4one
The tablets are being offered to all 750,000 postal workers nationwide. Two tablets will be given to any employee who wants to have the pills in case of an emergency.That's a one day supply, good only for getting the hell out of the area, or tiding you over until the government gives you some more. An adult needs two tablets a day, and should take it for 10 days after the "all clear", just to be safe. That could be a lot of pills.
The stuff is dirt cheap, and every family should have a supply on hand, just so they don't have to report to the relocation camp to get their pills.
To: tbird1
the PO has been tasked to make a census of the location of the people ...Exactly right.
To: suijuris
Where can I purchase the pills?
35
posted on
12/02/2002 9:25:28 PM PST
by
Dengar01
To: Dengar01
nevermind that.
36
posted on
12/02/2002 9:34:11 PM PST
by
Dengar01
To: tbird1
Since the first possibility of Nuke attack years ago, the PO has been tasked to make a census of the location of the people surviving an attack. (Been there and participated in the plans) Thanks for this info. I'd never heard anything about this before.
37
posted on
12/02/2002 9:36:10 PM PST
by
Dianna
To: templar
As you seem so well versed on this subject, I have to ask a question. I am allergic to iodine (can't eat shellfish). What does someone like me do? Any info or suggestions you offer would be helpful...I have read these articles w/great interest and I have never seen the iodine allergy addressed...and I know that it is not that rare of an allergen.
Thanks:)
PaMom
To: PennsylvaniaMom
Uh...dig a deep hole?
To: Semper911
Yeah right. They're more likely to be killed in a car wreck on the way to pick up the pills.
40
posted on
12/02/2002 10:49:53 PM PST
by
zarf
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