Is the person next to you radioactive?

[Richard B the EMT]

In the National Safety Council's publication, "Health and Safety" (April, 2011) they had the following article:

NRC: Protect hotel workers from radioactive guests.

Washington...The Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently issued guidelines to medical licensees, asking them to discourage patients from staying in hotels following iodine treatment for thyroid conditions.

The guidance is in response to concerns that thyroid patients, who typically remain radioactive for a few days after receiving iodine treatments, sometimes go to hotels instead of their own homes. That creates the potential for hotel workers and guests to unknowingly be exposed to radiation, NRC said.

The agency advised doctors to ask about a patients destination upon release and provide instructions for managing exposure to others.

"The administration of radioactive iodine provides essential medical therapy to thousands of seriously ill patients, and outpatient procedures can increase access to this treatment without significant health or safety risk to the public", Robert J. Lewis, director of the NRC's Division of Materials Safety and State Agreements, said in a press release. "However, it is the NRC's goal to limit unnecessary radiation exposure to anyone to the greatest degree possible, and it is the doctor's responsibility to carefully evaluate patient release to other locations and communicate to the patient additional radiation safety precautions that may be appropriate for such locations."

[FireMedic65]

Yes, everyone and everything puts off at least some radioactivity

[Chief1C]

I expected when we turned our dosimeters on in the ambulance, that it would be zero... However, it wasn't, and carrying it around the station, outside, etc; causes it to fluctuate up and down. Contrary to popular belief, the microwave doesn't make it change anymore than a slice of pizza. We were bored. But the base station, PASS Devices and waste water trucks from Gas Frac'ing, do cause it to rise. The latter, causes quite a big rise.

[NYCEMS9115]

It is generally safe so as long as the radioactive iodine recipient is not near a child or pregnant women. Clothes washing together are fine as long as the person is not a sweater. Sleeping in another room is best. Eat at different times or in separate locations. Distance is best and less time interaction is key. Its not a big deal. Take a week off.