1. Radiation Communication: Implementing Best Practices from Around the Globe
Jessica Wieder
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Center for Radiation Information and Outreach

2. International Symposium on Communicating Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies to the Public International Atomic Energy Agency October 1-5, 2018 Vienna, Austria

8. Join at slido.com #NREP

9. “No country is an island. We have the same concerns
“No country is an island. We have the same concerns. Same challenges to face.”
Ms. Vasiliki Tafili, Greek Atomic Energy Commission, Public Information Specialist

10. "Go where the people are. To the channels they are using
"Go where the people are. To the channels they are using. The people they trust. Not the people you trust.”
Dr. Gaya Gamhewage, Infectious Hazard Management and Risk Communications, World Health Organization

11. Develop social media plans

15. Identify “fringe amplifiers”
Play Stacked video clip after this slide. Transition from who says it to what we say. Video clip that highlights that it as important as accuracy is, the words we use are very important to audience comprehension.

16. How much radiation is safe?

18. What makes units important to the public?
They know what the unit means
They know what a number and unit mean together (is it big or little)
They know what actions need to be taken, if any
They know the consequences of taking or not taking the action
What makes units important to the public?

20. 620 millirem = 6,200 microsieverts
Radiation levels mentioned in WSJ’s March 15, 2011 article “Radiation’s Effect Depends on Amount”
Average annual U.S. radiation dose
620 millirem = 6,200 microsieverts
CT can
1,500 microsieverts
Full set of dental x-rays
400 microsieverts
NRC limits for workers
50,000 microsieverts/year
Levels at Fukushima on March 14, 2011 morning
3,130 microsieverts/hour
Levels at Fukushima on March 14, 2011 later in the morning
326 microsieverts/hour
No data to reliably estimate the occurrence of cancer
< 100,000 microsieverts
Alter body chemistry
5-10 rem
Cause nausea and fatigue
55 rems (1 rem = 10,000 microsieverts)
Cause vomiting and hair loss
70-75 rem
Death in two months
400 rem

21. Do NOT make the public do math
Should we have a unit policy?

22. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

23. Join at slido.com #NREP

24. Which of the following gaps should be the communication priority for the radiological emergency response community?
Developing social media plans
Identifying "fringe amplifiers"
Answering "How much radiation is safe?"
Setting a unit policy
Exercising how we execute radiation communication

25. https://www.iaea.org/sites/ default/files/19/01/cn-265- report.pdf