Potassium Iodide tablets In an emergency at Hunterston B Power Station Information for people receiving Potassium Iodide tablets This booklet gives you advice about taking Potassium Iodide tablets after some types of nuclear incident at Hunterston B Power Station. The chance of such an incident remains extremely small and these tablets are issued as a precaution. Potassium Iodide tablets contain iodine and will reduce your risk of developing thyroid cancer if such an incident should occur. Please read this booklet carefully and keep it in a safe place. Another copy is in the pack containing your tablets. If an incident does occur, advice will be issued through local radio and other media. You should not take Potassium Iodide tablets until you are advised to do so. Visit our website: www.nhsaaa.net All our publications are available in other formats
Your questions answered What are potassium iodide tablets? These tablets contain iodine. Each 65mg potassium iodide tablet contains the equivalent of 50mg of iodine. Why have these tablets been issued? In the extremely unlikely event of a serious incident at Hunterston B Power Station, it is possible that radioactive iodine may be released into the environment. This radioactive iodine can enter the body if you breathe in contaminated air, or consume contaminated food or drink. Iodine enters the blood and travels to the thyroid gland in the neck where it is used to make thyroid hormone, and may be stored for some time. Potassium Iodide tablets work by filling up the thyroid gland in your neck with non radioactive ("stable") iodine, so reducing absorption of the radioactive iodine. Who has been given these tablets? The possibility of a serious incident at Hunterston B is extremely small. A risk assessment undertaken by nuclear industry experts and approved by Government regulators has shown that households within 2.4km (just over one mile) are the most likely to be affected in this way following an incident, so 2
families living and people working within this area have all been given Potassium Iodide tablets. How will I know when to take the tablets? In the event of an incident at Hunterston B which leads to release of radioactive materials, the radioactive iodine level in the air will be assessed, and, if needed, you will be asked to take your Potassium Iodide tablets. You will be informed that you should take your Potassium Iodide tablets in a telephone message. Please note that incidents at Hunterston A will not always result in a release of radioactive iodine, and so you would not be advised to take the tablets under those circumstances. Who should take these tablets? Everyone, except those who have been told by their doctor that: They are sensitive/allergic to iodine They suffer the very rare medical conditions of dermatitis herpetiformis or hypocomplementaemic vasculitis. Your doctor will have told you if you suffer from one of these conditions. 3
It is most important that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and children take these tablets. This is because the unborn child and young children are more sensitive to the effects of radioactive iodine. How many tablets should be taken? The dosage of the tablets depends on age and is as follows: Babies under one month: quarter of a tablet Children aged one month to three years: half a tablet Children three to 12 years: one tablet Adults and children aged 12 years and above: two tablets How should I take these tablets? A liquid preparation is not available so for babies, crush the quarter tablet and then dissolve it in a small quantity of milk or juice - shake well to make sure the powder dissolves, but ignore any traces of undissolved tablet. For young children, crush the half tablet and mix with a teaspoon of a substance such as jam, honey or yoghurt. For older children, crush one tablet and mix with a teaspoon of jam, honey or yoghurt. 4
For adults, swallow two tablets with water. If you find this difficult, crush as for children. What if I have visitors and there are not enough tablets for everyone in the house? Children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should be treated first. Are there any side effects from Potassium Iodide tablets? When these tablets were given to very large numbers of people in Poland following an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station in 1986, very few people had any side effects. The most common side effect is feeling sick for a short time after taking the tablets. Should I see a doctor afterwards? Most people will not need to see their doctor after taking these tablets. However, if you have to see the doctor for other reasons, you should tell him or her that you have taken Potassium Iodide tablets. If you have a baby under three months old, you should make an appointment to see your doctor as a precaution. This is because it is important for a doctor to check the thyroid hormone levels of young babies who have taken Potassium Iodide. 5
If you are in the last three months of your pregnancy, you should make an appointment to see your doctor. This is because blood samples should be taken from the baby s umbilical cord at birth to measure the baby s thyroid hormone level, if the mother has taken Potassium Iodide in the last three months of pregnancy. How should I store these tablets? These tablets should be stored in a cool, dry, place which is safely out of the reach of children. It is important for these tablets to be stored in an accessible place within the household and that all members of the household are aware of where the tablets are stored. The package containing the tablets and a copy of this leaflet should not be opened unless you need to take these tablets. What should I do if these tablets have been taken in overdose? If you accidentally take an overdose of potassium iodide tablets, either call your doctor straightaway or go to the nearest hospital casualty department. Always take any remaining tablets, the container and label with you, so that the tablets can be identified 6
How will I receive new tablets if these tablets pass the expiry date on the box? Before these tablets are due to expire you will be sent a new supply of Potassium Iodide tablets and clear instructions about where to return the expired tablets. Do these tablets completely protect me and my family? No - these tablets only help to protect against the effects of inhaled radioactive iodine. These tablets do not protect against external radiation. They do not protect against other forms of radioactive substances other than iodine. The tablets are in addition to, and do not replace, other advice which may be issued by EDF Energy and Police Scotland, for example to shelter by going indoors and shutting all doors and windows. For more information on these tablets contact: NHS Ayrshire & Arran Public Health Department Telephone 01292 885 858 7
All of our publications are available in different languages, larger print, braille (English only), audio tape or another format of your choice. Tha gach sgrìobhainn againn rim faotainn ann an diofar chànanan, clò nas motha, Braille (Beurla a-mhàin), teip claistinn no riochd eile a tha sibh airson a thaghadh. 0800 169 1441 Tell us what you think... If you would like to comment on any issues raised by this document, please complete this form and return it to: Communications Department, 28 Lister Street, University Hospital Crosshouse, Crosshouse KA2 0BB. You can also email us at: comms@aaaht.scot.nhs.uk. If you provide your contact details, we will acknowledge your comments and pass them to the appropriate departments for a response. Name Address Comment Last reviewed: June 2017 Leaflet reference: PHD05-001-CC/PIL17-0318