Toms River - KI Pills for People Near Nuclear Plant

FIRST OF FOUR PLANNED CLINICS BEGINS MARCH 27
FOR FREE KI PILLS TO PERSONS NEAR NUCLEAR PLANT

Increased public demand for free potassium iodide (KI) pills from workers and residents within 10 miles of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, has resulted in four area distribution clinics being announced by the Ocean County Health Department.

Health Department spokesman Edward Rumen said the clinics will be held in the northern, central and southern mainland areas, and on Long Beach Island.

“We needed to make the clinics as accessible as possible to the largest number of residents living or working within the 10 mile Emergency Planning Zone,” he said. “The easier it is to go to a clinic, the greater the number of clients will come.”

The first clinic begins Thursday, March 27 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Health Department main building, 175 Sunset Avenue, Toms River.

“We chose the hours for the convenience of the majority of residents,” Rumen said. “By having late afternoon and early evening hours, we hope to be able to serve most of our working public.”

The KI pills are free and replace older pills distributed in 2002, which have expired. The new pills for adults expire in 2014 and the pediatric pills expire in 2012.

The four distribution clinics are:

• March 27, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ocean County Health Department, 175 Sunset Avenue, Toms River

• April 3, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ocean Acres Community Center, 489 Nautilus Drive, Ocean Acres, Stafford Township

• April 8, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Lacey Township High School, 73 Haines Street, Lanoka Harbor

• April 10, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Long Beach Island Health Department, 11601 The Boulevard, Haven Beach.

“The pills protect the thyroid from absorbing any radioactive iodine that may be released into the air during an emergency shutdown of the nuclear reactor,” said Daniel Regenye, Assistant Public Health Coordinator. “The pills do not protect the body from other radiation-related injuries due to exposure and are only a supplement to evacuation and sheltering, the primary modes of protection in a radiological emergency.”
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“Individuals who wish to receive a pill at one of the scheduled distribution sessions may be required to show identification (such as a driver’s license, property tax record, utility bill, employee ID card, paycheck stub or letter from their employer) indicating they live or work within the 10-mile zone. Also, one family member can pick up pills for all members of the family. Also, neighbors may pick up pills for neighbors who may be homebound,” Rumen added.

“In addition to the public distribution, the new KI pills have been stockpiled at various locations, such as schools, day care centers and emergency reception centers,” Regenye added.

“It is important to remember the KI pills are a preparedness measure and are not a response to any imminent danger or known threat at the nuclear generating plant,” said Freeholder Gerry P, Little, liaison to the Board of Health “Public health preparedness is important to all of us and I encourage those individuals living or working within the 10 mile zone around the nuclear plant to consider having KI pills on hand in their home or workplace,”.

Regenye said just about anyone who is not allergic to iodine or shellfish can take the KI pill. Residents should consult with their physician about other specific medical conditions before consuming KI, he stated.

Regenye added that a KI pill should be taken only after a public health official tells you to do so. It then should be taken as soon as possible after that announcement.

Rumen stated that the clinics’ dates, times and locations, along with KI fact sheets, can be found on the Ocean County Health Department Web site at www.ochd.org. He added anyone with questions or concerns about KI pills can call the Health Department’s Health Planning section at 732-341-9700, ext. 7227 or, for out of area callers, 800-342-9738.

The Health Department held a series of distribution clinics last spring within the 10-mile zone.

“Those clinics helped us reach several thousand residents, but a recent front page story in a Sunday edition of the Asbury Park Press sparked renewed interest in obtaining the current KI pills,” Rumen said. “The volume of people seeking KI pills showed us the need to capitalize on the newspaper article and schedule new clinics.”

Municipalities considered within the 10-mile radius of the nuclear power plant include Barnegat, Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Beachwood, Berkeley, Harvey Cedars, Island Heights, Lacey, Long Beach, Pine Beach, Ocean (Waretown), Ocean Gate, Toms River, Seaside Park, Ship Bottom, South Toms River, Stafford and Surf City.