Response Planning & Guidance

RITNSM Fact Sheets

RITN Fact Sheet for Health Care Professionals on Radiation Injury and Stem Cell Transplantation

This fact sheet introduces hematologists, oncologists and hematopoietic cell transplant specialists to radiation incidents and some of the medical issues involved in managing radiation casualties.

RITN Fact Sheet for Health Care Professionals on Radiation Injury and Stem Cell Transplantation (Opens in a new tab) (PDF)

RITN Fact Sheet for Health Care Professionals on Mustard Agents

This fact sheet provides medical professionals who manage patients with bone marrow toxicity with facts about the short- and long-term effects of mustard agents and the basic elements of clinical care for mustard agent casualties. Although it is not a common reaction, some casualties exposed to mustard agents will have bone marrow damage.

RITN Fact Sheet for Health Care Professionals on Mustard Agents (Opens in a new tab) (PDF)

RITN Nuclear Power Plant FAQ

This FAQ sheet answers questions related to nuclear power plant preparedness and the interaction of the Radiation Injury Treatment NetworkSM (RITN).

RITN Nuclear Power Plant FAQ (Opens in a new tab) (PDF)

NACCHO/RITN Gap Analysis: Understanding the Shortfalls within Radiation Preparedness

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) partnered with RITN to identify and understand the gaps that exist in public health, health care and radiation control regarding outreach, training and programmatic activities and, in turn, created recommendations to address identified gaps.

NACCHO/RITN Gap Analysis: Understanding the Shortfalls within Radiation Preparedness (Opens in a new tab) (PDF)

Federal Guidance

ASPR TRACIE Radiological and Nuclear Topic Collection

A large-scale radiological release or nuclear detonation incident could result in a significant surge of patients, including those who may not have been exposed, but seek medical attention anyway. The resources in this Topic Collection include toolkits, reference guides, plan guidance documents, modeling and simulation reports and manuals that may help first responders and first receivers assess, triage and treat casualties of radiological and nuclear emergencies.

ASPR TRACIE Radiological and Nuclear Topic Collection (Opens in a new tab)

Federal Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation

This document describes the considerations, planning factors and available resources to craft a 111 successful nuclear detonation response plan. The focus of this document is on the first 24 to 72 hours 112 after a detonation, when early actions can save many lives.

Federal Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation (Opens in a new tab) (PDF)

NMDS Federal Coordinating Center Guide

This guide provides Federal Coordinating Center (FCC) Directors, Coordinators and Staff an educational resource to develop plans and to conduct FCC operations. 

NMDS Federal Coordinating Center Guide (Opens in a new tab)

Radiological Dispersal Device Playbook

This living document provides guidance for executive decision makers within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the event of an actual radiological terrorist attack in a U.S. city. Specifically, it outlines key measures and options to aid the Secretary in making essential decisions and directing the HHS response to a radiological attack.

Radiological Dispersal Device Playbook (Opens in a new tab)

Key Response Planning Factors for the Aftermath of Nuclear Terrorism

This study is focused primarily upon the hazards posed by radioactive fallout. It used detailed fallout predictions from the advanced suite of three-dimensional (3-D) meteorology and plume/fallout models developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), including extensive global Key Response Planning Factors for the Aftermath of Nuclear Terrorism geographical and real-time meteorological databases to support model calculations.

Key Response Planning Factors for the Aftermath of Nuclear Terrorism (Opens in a new tab) (PDF)

Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex to the Response and Recovery Federal Interagency Operational Plans

This annex provides guidance and serves as a reference for federal agency planning efforts involving nuclear/radiological incidents.

Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex to the Response and Recovery Federal Interagency Operational Plans (Opens in a new tab) (PDF)

Improvised Nuclear Device Response and Recovery: Communicating in the Immediate Aftermath

A resource for emergency responders and federal, state and local officials communicating with the public and the media during the immediate aftermath of a nuclear detonation in the United States. This document includes key messages for the impacted community and the nation, and anticipated questions and answers for distribution to the public in the immediate aftermath of a nuclear detonation.

Improvised Nuclear Device Response and Recovery: Communicating in the Immediate Aftermath (Opens in a new tab) (PDF)

Communicating During and After a Nuclear Power Plant Incident

This document provides communications guidance for domestic nuclear power plant (NPP) incidents, including sample text and suggested answers to anticipated public and media questions. This document also provides background information explaining roles and responsibilities across all levels of government during an NPP incident.

Communicating During and After a Nuclear Power Plant Incident (Opens in a new tab) (PDF)

Health and Safety Planning Guide for Planners, Safety Officers, and Supervisors Following a Nuclear Detonation

This guide is intended for planners, safety officers and supervisors of responders to assist in the preparation for health and safety management in the event of a successful improvised nuclear device (IND) event.

Health and Safety Planning Guide for Planners, Safety Officers, and Supervisors Following a Nuclear Detonation (Opens in a new tab) (PDF)

Quick Reference Guide: Radiation Risk Information for Responders Following a Nuclear Detonation

This document supports the “Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation” and was designed to provide responders with specific guidance and recommendations about the radiation risk associated with responding to an improvised nuclear device (IND) event, for them to protect themselves from the IND effects. It is intended to be part of preparation training with the “Health and Safety Planning Guide for Planners and Supervisors for Protecting First Responders Following A Nuclear Detonation.”

Quick Reference Guide: Radiation Risk Information for Responders Following a Nuclear Detonation (Opens in a new tab) (PDF)

PAG Manual: Protective Action Guides and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed this manual to assist public officials in planning for emergency response to radiological incidents. This manual provides radiological protection criteria for application to all incidents that would require consideration of protective actions, except for nuclear war.

PAG Manual: Protective Action Guides and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents (Opens in a new tab) (PDF)