Be PreparedYour guide to:

Potassium Iodide (KI) Tablets

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets1

1 | Stay Informed

It is important to stay informed during an emergency. There are many ways to receive emergency information including:

• Mail and hand-delivered information• Telephone or email• Internet and social media

(follow your local municipality, health unit, fire, andpolice services on their platforms)

• Local television stations• Local radio stations• Members of your community

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets 2

Be sure to share any emergency information you receive with your friends, neighbours and family.

Turn your radio/TV on!

During any emergency situation, authorities will immediately contact all local radio stations. To receive information, residents should immediately turn on battery/crank-operated radios and tune into:

Radio CBC 1550 AM CHYR 96.7 FM

CBEF 540 AM CIMX 88.7 FM CFCO 92.9 FM

CKWW 580 AM CKSY 94.3 CJSP 92.7 FM

CKLW 800 AM CIDR 93.9 FM CKUE 95.1FM

Television

CBC Channel 9 (Cable 10)

CTV Channel 16.1 (Cable 6)

COGECO Channel 10 (Cable 11)

911 Police, Fire, Ambulance

211 Community and social services

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets3

Local Emergency Contact Numbers

Poison Treatment Centre 1-800-268-9017

Spills Action Centre 1-800-268-6060

CK Public Health 519-355-1071 EXT. 5800

Hydro One 1-800-787-4295

Entegrus 1-866-804-7325

Chatham-Kent Police Services 519-352-1234

Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477

Marine and Air Search and Rescue 1-800-222-8477

TeleHealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000

Canadian Red Cross 1-866-797-0000or 519-944-8144

Enbridge 1-877-969-0999

Tilbury Detachment 519-682-2614

519-436-6600

CK Fire 519-436-3270

Chatham-Kent Police (Headquarters)

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets 4

NUCLEAR EMERGENCYA small part of Chatham-Kent falls within the Ingestion Planning Zonesof the Enrico Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Generating Plant in Monroe, MI, the Davis-Besse Nuclear Generating Plant outside Oak Harbor, OH, and the Perry Nuclear Power Plan located in Perry, OH.

This booklet is to help residents be informed and stay safe in the highly unlikely event of a nuclear emergency.

What to do in case of a Nuclear Emergency

In the highly unlikely event of a nuclear emergency, you will be promptly notified a number of ways including through the use of sirens, radio, television, Internet, automated telephone call, and social media.

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets5

WHAT DO I DO?

1. Go inside and turn on yourradio or television for instructions.

2. Listen to the media reports.

3. Follow instructions provided bygovernment officials.

4. Follow instructions forsheltering in place, evacuating, andtaking Potassium Iodide (KI) pills.

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets 6

If instructed to Shelter in Place:

• Go into your home or workplace. If necessary, inform otherpeople to do the same.

• Close all doors and windows.

• Turn off furnaces, air conditioners and any other airintake/exhaust mechanisms.

• Gather your family and your personal emergency 72 hour kit.

• Stay tuned to designated radio stations for further instructions.

• Stay calm.

• Don’t evacuate unless advised to do so.

If instructed to Evacuate:

• Close and lock your windows and doors.

• Follow instructions and routes given by emergency officials.

• Bring your 72 hour emergency kit.

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets7

ide

Rd

WEST KENT AREA (Fermi 2 Zone)

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets 8

RONDEAU AREA(Perry Zone)

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets9

Potassium Iodide (KI) Tablets

In the event of an incident that involves a release of radioactive iodine into the environment, one of the health risks is the possible exposure of the thyroid gland to radioactive iodine. One way to protect the thyroid from the harmful effects of radioactive iodine is to take potassium iodide (KI) tablets.

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets 10

What is KI?

KI is a salt of stable iodine. Stable iodine is an essential nutrient needed in very small quantities for the thyroid gland to function properly. KI comes in tablet form and can be easily swallowed.

How does KI work?

When swallowed just prior to or shortly after exposure to radioactive iodine, KI fills up the thyroid with stable iodine so it cannot absorb any other iodine for a period of time. This prevents the thyroid from absorbing harmful amounts of radioactive iodine so that the radioactive iodine will not accumulate, and the body will naturally excrete it. This process is also called iodine thyroid blocking.

The thyroid gland does not know the difference between non-radioactive (stable) and radioactive iodine and can absorb both. Absorption of harmful levels of radioactive iodine can increase the risk of thyroid cancer later in life, especially in children.

Does KI protect against all forms of radiation?

No. KI provides protection only to the thyroid gland and only against internal contamination from radioactive iodine. Radioactive iodine may be found in emissions from a nuclear generating plant during an accident. KI will not protect against exposure to other contaminants contained in those emissions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets11

When should I take KI and how will I know to take it?

If possible, KI should be taken before exposure to radioactive iodine during a nuclear emergency. The optimum time is two to six hours earlier. If that is not possible, KI should be taken as soon as possible after first exposure, ideally within three hours. There is no benefit to taking KI if there has been a 24-hour delay.

If there is a threat of a significant exposure during an incident, the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario will provide instructions through radio, TV, Internet and other available channels on where, when, how, and by whom KI should be taken.

KI is only to be used during an emergency situation at a nuclear generating station.

KI is only to be taken when instructed to do so by provincial authorities.

Who benefits most from taking KI?

Pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, children and adolescents should be among the first to receive KI as they are at higher risk for developing thyroid cancer after exposure to radioactive iodine.

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets 12

How many KI pills should be taken and how often?

People who are at risk from exposure to radioactive iodine may be directed by provincial authorities to repeat dosage every 24 hours for the duration of the exposure and/or until it is possible to evacuate.

Unless otherwise instructed, pregnant and breastfeeding women and newborn babies should take only one single dose of KI and not repeat dosages.

The dosages that follow are consistent with Health Canada and World Health Organization recommendations. Larger doses than those indicated have no additional benefit and may increase the risk of side effects.

Age Group Potassium Iodide (KI) Dose

# of 65 mg tablets

Adults (18 years+) including pregnant and breastfeeding women1

130 mg 2

Adolescents (12-18 years)2 65 mg 1

Children (3-12 years) 65 mg 1

Infants (1 month-3 years) 32 mg 1/2

Newborns (<1 month)1 16 mgKI Liquid Solution3

1 Pregnant or breastfeeding women and newborns should take only one single dose of KI

2 Adolescenents approaching adult size (over 150lbs/70kg) should receive the full adult dose (130mg)

3 See “Preparation of a KI Liquid Solution”

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets13

What if I have a family member who cannot swallow a KI tablet?

People unable to swallow a KI tablet, and children under three years of age will require a KI liquid solution. Instructions are on page 15.

How long are KI tablets good for? How should they be stored?

The expiry date is printed on the label of the KI packaging. The KI tablets should be kept sealed at room temperature and away from the light.

Are there any side effects from taking KI?

The risk of side effects from taking a dose of KI is extremely low for all age groups who have normal thyroid function. The overall benefit during a nuclear emergency outweighs the risks of side effects.

There is an increased risk of side effects for people with thyroid disorders i.e., auto-immune thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, iodine deficiency, and nodular goiter. These disorders are more common in adults and the elderly, and are rare in children.

Rare side effects in other parts of the body, such as gastrointestinal effects or hypersensitivity reaction, may occur but are generally mild. People who are sensitive to iodine or who have an existing or previous thyroid disorder or any other concerns should consult their doctor or nurse practitioner prior to taking KI.

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets 14

Who should NOT take KI?

People should discuss with their doctor if they have any of the following disorders:

• Hypersensitivity to iodine. This is a very rare disorderthat should not be confused with more commonhypersensitivity to contrast agents which contain iodineused in certain radiological examinations. A seafood orshellfish allergy does not necessarily mean that you areallergic or hypersensitive to iodine.

• Dermatitis herpetiformis (a chronic skin condition).

• Hypocomplementaemic vasculitis (an uncommoninflammation of the vascular walls, which can occur incertain immunological disorders).

• Myotonia congenita (extremely rare congenital defectinvolving muscle stiffness).

• Dialysis Patients (may increase risk of hyperkalemia).

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets15

Preparation ofPotassium Iodide (KI) Liquid SolutionPeople who are unable to swallow a KI tablet, and children under three years of age, will require a KI liquid solution. Instructions for preparing the KI liquid solution using two 65mg tablets are given below.

To make the KI Liquid Solution, you will need:

• Two 65mg KI tablets

• Teaspoon

• Small Bowl

• 4 Teaspoons of water

• 4 Teaspoons of a drink (e.g., milk, chocolatemilk, orange juice, breastmilk etc.)

Directions for making KI Liquid Solution:

1. Soften the KI tablets: Put two 65mg KI tablets into a small bowl.Add 4 teaspoons of water. Soak the tablets for one minute.

2. Crush the softened KI tablets: Use the back of a teaspoon to crushthe tablets in the water. At the end of this step, there should notbe any large pieces of KI. This makes the KI and water mixture.

3. Add a drink to the KI and water mixture: Choose a drink from thelist above. Mix 4 teaspoons of the desired drink with KI and watermixture made in Step 2. Adding the desired drink makes the finalKI solution.

4. Give the right amount of the final KI solution, using thefollowing chart.

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets 16

Age Once daily dose of KI Solution

19 years or older 8 teaspoons (40ml)

13-18 years (over 150lbs/70kg) 8 teaspoons (40ml)

13-18 years (under 150lbs/70kg) 4 teaspoons (20ml)

4-12 years 4 teaspoons (20ml)

Over 1 month through 3 years 2 teaspoons (10ml)

An infant from birth through 1 month*

1 teaspoon (5ml)

* This is the amount to give for one dose. Infants less than 1 monthof age should receive only one single dose.

Storage of Prepared KI Mixture

KI mixtures keep for up to seven days in the refrigerator. Discard unused portions.

Potassium Iodide tablets are available at CK Public Health for those who live in either of the determined zones.If you would like to order KI tablets for your home, please call

CK Public Health 519-355-1071 EXT 5800 or visit www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets for more information.

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets17

Notes

www.ckpublichealth.com/kitablets 18

Adapted with permission from Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Revised: November, 2019