Health and Safety Planning Guide for Planners, Safety Officers, and Supervisors for Protecting Responders Following a Nuclear Detonation

Response in the aftermath of a nuclear detonation will be extremely challenging. The risk of radiation exposure requires additional protections and actions by first responders and other individuals conducting response and rescue operations.

To provide planners and responders a better understanding for addressing the unique risks encountered in the post-IND environment, DHS and our interagency partners developed the “Health and Safety Planning Guide for Planners, Safety Officers, and Supervisors for Protecting Responders Following a Nuclear Detonation” and accompanying quick reference guide.

This guidance is intended to aid in preserving the health and safety of response personnel in order to sustain lifesaving and critical infrastructure support for the duration of the emergency.

The guidance provides response planners, safety officers, and supervisors with specific information and recommendations to protect responders from the effects and impacts of an extreme event: a 10 kiloton (KT) improvised nuclear device (IND) within the first 72 hours of a detonation.

By following the recommendations presented in this Guide, responders should be able to identify how to prioritize their efforts in order to maximize rescue potential while minimizing the risks to themselves, thus remaining available for ongoing rescue missions.