Explaining Protective Actions and Protective Action Guides (PAGs)

• Protective actions (protective action recommendations): designed to be taken before an anticipated PAG dose is reached.
  • Actions taken to reduce or eliminate the public's exposure to radiation or other hazards following an radiation incident
    • In the early and intermediate phases of RDD/IND incidents there may be inadequate information to determine precisely the radiation levels or make dose projections.
    • Initial protective actions may be undertaken based on models rather than actual measured radiation levels.
    • Protective action recommendations may change over the course of an incident, as new information is obtained.
  • Primary protective actions include
    • Sheltering-in-place
    • Evacuation
    • Relocation
    • Interdiction of food and water
  • Secondary protective actions include
    • Medical countermeasure administration
    • Decontamination
    • Restrictions of food and/or water
    • Soil guidance
    • Access control
    • Victim extraction
  • See EPA illustration about protective actions

• Protective action guides (PAGs): "projected cumulative dose avoided by taking protective actions"
  • Detailed information about PAGs (EPA)
  • Key existing federal PAG guidance document
  • EPA Manual of Protective Action Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents (PDF - 15.57 MB) (EPA 400-R-92_001, May 1992) This document was originally designed to address commercial nuclear power plant incidents. It is currently undergoing revision. (EPA)
  • Additional emergency response PAG guidance
    • The Department of Homeland Security/ Federal Emergency Management Agency
      • Planning Guidance for Protection and Recovery Following Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) Incidents (2008) This provides an interim supplement to the 1992 document cited above.
    • The Homeland Security Council
      • Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation (PDF - 2.47 MB) (2010)
    • Department of Energy
      • Operational Guidelines
      • Preliminary Report on Operational Guidelines Developed for Use in Emergency Preparedness and Response to a Radiological Dispersal Device Incident (PDF - 2.55 MB) (February, 2009)
      • Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment (FRMAC): FRMAC Assessment Manual, Volume 1 - Overview and Methods (PDF - 1.55 MB)
      • Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment (FRMAC): FRMAC Assessment Manual, Volume 2 - Pre-assessed Default Scenarios (PDF - 3.85 MB)
    • Food and Drug Administration
      • Guidance: Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies (PDF - 40 KB)
      • Guidance for Industry KI in Radiation Emergencies -Questions and Answers (PDF - 161 KB) (2002)
      • Frequently Asked Questions about KI
      • Food and Drug Administration: Accidental Radioactive Contamination of Human Food And Animal Feeds: Recommendations for State and Local agencies (PDF - ) (1998)
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
      • Population Monitoring in Radiation Emergencies: A Guide for State and Local Public Health Planners (PDF - 3.66 MB) (2007)