Which guiding principle is suitable for dealing with a disaster scenario involving radiation contamination?

Question

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The key aspects related to radiation exposure are time and distance. The greater the distance, the less dosage received. Acute radiation syndrome has the following phases: prodromal, latent, manifest, and recovery or death. Initially, all victims will appear well; however, the damage is mainly internal, leads to cell destruction, and manifests later on. Victims farthest away from the radiation source are the most salvageable. In this scenario, the principle of disaster nursing is to do the most good for the most people with the available resources. (Option A) Nerve agents used as biological weapons (eg, sarin) inhibit acetyl-cholinesterase, and their effects are caused by the resulting excess acetylcholine. Common symptoms are miosis, rhinorrhea, copious secretions, shortness of breath, and flaccid paralysis. Treatment is with suction and support ventilation and circulation. However, these symptoms are not related to radiation contamination. (Option C) Damage from radiation affects the most radiosensitive cells first; these are the hematopoietic, digestive, central nervous system, and cutaneous cells. The presence of severe symptoms indicates extensive internal damage and that the victims are less salvageable in the long term. (Option D) Neurologic symptoms such as symmetrical descending flaccid paralysis with cranial nerve palsies (ptosis, diplopia, dysphagia, dysphonia) are classic of botulism, which is caused by toxins from the spore-forming anaerobic bacillus Clostridium botulinum. Treatment includes ventilator assistance and the heptavalent botulism antitoxin. Educational objective: In triaging victims from a radiation contamination disaster, nurses should assist clients who are farthest away from the source and have the least symptoms as most damage is internal and will not be apparent initially. Nerve agents (eg, sarin) cause excess acetylcholine with copious secretions. Neurologic symptoms are classic for biological threats such as botulinum toxin.

Which Guiding Principle Is Suitable for Dealing with a Disaster