Nuclear incidents casualties

Nuclear incidents do have a number of advantages from the terrorist s point of view. If successful, they are certainly effective in causing mass casualties and are likely to leave a legacy of ongoing ill health and premature death. Perhape more importantly, however, such an event would be seen as the ultimate symbol of terrorist intent and the fear it might generate would be immense. Because radiation is invisible but deadly, its use would inevitably cause massive public (and official) anxiety. 

Adapted from Blond SA. Moss casualty management for radiological and nuclear incidents. J R Army Med Corps 2004 1 50 27-34. Crown Copyright 2004. 

The plan was revised in a government circular, dated 26 April 2002 (Circulaire 700 SGDN/PSE/PPS, 2002) with special reference to the management of possible terrorist chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents. At about the same time, a further circular (Circulaire DHOS/HFD No 2002/284, 2002) was issued to provide specific instructions to hospitals for the management of mass casualties from CBRN incidents. This was, in effect,... 

However, with reactor incidents, direct loss of life or casualties are extremely rare. In this respect the nuclear record compares well with other energy-related industries (see Appendix 10). There have been accidents at nuclear plants, leading to injury and in some cases deaths. In these, nuclear plant is similar to all other process and power plant. The special feature of nuclear plant is the awesome potential power in the plant and its highly radioactive contents. 

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