REAC/TS staff continues support of the emergency preparedness community throughout COVID-19 pandemic

June 17, 2021

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, REAC/TS staff have continued to support the emergency preparedness community by providing their expertise not only for the medical management of radiation incidents, but also live-saving techniques for use in trauma situations. Below are a few recent examples of how REAC/TS' experts are helping prepare both medical and non-medical professionals in the treatment of radiation accident and trauma victims.

REAC/TS staff conducts virtual "Stop the Bleed" course

REAC/TS medical staff provided the American College of Surgeons’ “Stop the Bleed” course virtually to participants from the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Nuclear Incident Policy and Cooperation on May 26 and June 9. This course teaches non-medical personnel the skills to perform life-saving interventions to treat active bleeding from trauma. The course participants, including senior leadership, had all received personal “Stop the Bleed” kits from REAC/TS in the weeks prior to the course. Attendees expressed appreciation for the new skills they had acquired and many stated that they felt better prepared for potential emergency procedures in case of trauma during remote deployments. 

REAC/TS team members present at virtual Radiological Response Team Training

On June 4, REAC/TS Director Dr. Carol Iddins and Nurse/Paramedic Angie Bowen were invited speakers at a virtual Radiological Response Team Training sponsored by the Region VII Disaster Health Response Ecosystem and the Iowa Bureau of Radiological Health. The audience of 66 participants included of all levels of medical and non-medical emergency response personnel. These presentations were part of a six-part series hosted by the University of Nebraska to better inform all aspects of response to a radiological or nuclear event with REAC/TS being featured for the medical management portion.