Fire, Reactor 4

[thirtyhz]

Reactor 4 is burning again.  Chopper drops (seawater to cool core) have been called off.  According to the article, radiation is blowing out to sea.
Giving it the opportunity to travel....along with the jet stream.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/15/japanese-nuclear-panic-rises-agency-says-radiation-leaking-atmosphere/

Readiness includes:
Minimal exposure...if you must be outdoors....get protective gear.
KI, potassium iodide.  Correct dosing, courtesy of the CDC:http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/ki.asp

How much KI should I take?
The FDA has approved two different forms of KI—tablets and liquid—that people can take by mouth after a nuclear radiation emergency. Tablets come in two strengths, 130 milligram (mg) and 65 mg. The tablets are scored so they may be cut into smaller pieces for lower doses. Each milliliter (mL) of the oral liquid solution contains 65 mg of KI.
According to the FDA, the following doses are appropriate to take after internal contamination with (or likely internal contamination with) radioactive iodine:


•Adults should take 130 mg (one 130 mg tablet OR two 65 mg tablets OR two mL of solution).
•Women who are breastfeeding should take the adult dose of 130 mg.
•Children between 3 and 18 years of age should take 65 mg (one 65 mg tablet OR 1 mL of solution). Children who are adult size (greater than or equal to 150 pounds) should take the full adult dose, regardless of their age.
•Infants and children between 1 month and 3 years of age should take 32 mg (½ of a 65 mg tablet OR ½ mL of solution). This dose is for both nursing and non-nursing infants and children.
•Newborns from birth to 1 month of age should be given 16 mg (¼ of a 65 mg tablet or ¼ mL of solution). This dose is for both nursing and non-nursing newborn infants.

How often should I take KI?
A single dose of KI protects the thyroid gland for 24 hours. A one-time dose at the levels recommended in this fact sheet is usually all that is needed to protect the thyroid gland. In some cases, radioactive iodine might be in the environment for more than 24 hours. If that happens, local emergency management or public health officials may tell you to take one dose of KI every 24 hours for a few days. You should do this only on the advice of emergency management officials, public health officials, or your doctor. Avoid repeat dosing with KI for pregnant and breastfeeding women and newborn infants. Those individuals may need to be evacuated until levels of radioactive iodine in the environment fall.

Taking a higher dose of KI, or taking KI more often than recommended, does not offer more protection and can cause severe illness or death.

Thanks s2n for ckecking in on this!

[slim2none]

You're welcome thirty, and thank you for the dosing info for KI.  It's important on something like this to consider body weight.   Hope we don't have to do this often enough to become expert at it!   Ack!

[Mizar]

Thanks for the update, I am taking Kelp tablets daily now, and have told those near to me to do the same.  In Feng Shui, #4 is the number of death.  there is still a crew working nonstop at Fukushima, same crew from the start.

  Mizar

[thirtyhz]

This morning's news is varying wildly, and I wanted to bring this to light.

Reading on Yahoo news (AP article content), the situation in Japan with the reactors has become dire.  The castoff radiation continues to escape the reactors.

Reading on CNN, I noted that Japan is getting better.  Stock market is rebound, reactor issues are "managed", people are finding each other...etc.

I like the good news spin from CNN, but I know full well they're full of crap.  These guys seem to think the media spin will line up "Happy Sheep" at the feeding door.   

Don't give an inch on your well wishes for these people, and keep you level of prep and awareness on HIGH.

I'm posting some things about the reactors in the Japan topics.
30

[thirtyhz]

Official: Spent fuel rods exposed, 'extremely high' radiation resulted

This says it all.  Reactor is bust...and according to the article, the next step for containment will come from heroic efforts on the part of the workers, as in sacrificing their lives.

Read what you can on the situation, and prepare for what could come next.  Many factors remain open, but the radiation is aloft.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/16/japan.nuclear.reactors/index.html?hpt=T1

[slim2none]

That brave crew must know the odds against their long term survival.  I thank them, and hope their sacrifice is not in vain. 

More info on the potassium tabs.  Important to know there are two types available, with (of course!) conflicting info regarding which is best.  But most important to know there is a difference in DOSAGE amounts between the two.

The potassium iodide is referred to as KI, and that is the type described in thirty's post above with the tablet mg loads and dosages as described.

There is also potassium iodate, referred to as KIO3, and if you've purchased tabs in the past few years yours may be this type.  This has the advantage of a longer shelf life (decades if unopened).  Different mg in the tabs from the KI, and different dosages of mgs/tabs per day.

****************************
http://www.nukepills.com/potassium-iodate-vs-potassium-iodide.html
*this site indicates the KI is superior to the KIO3 (bear in mind they sell only the KI, so FWIW)


http://www.baproducts.com/ki.htm
*this site indicates that the KIO3 is superior for longer shelf life-again FWIW

Please read the cautions at this site for allergies, sensitivities, etc.

<snip>
Potassium Iodate (KIO3) is a superior form of Potassium Iodide (KI) because of its extended shelf life and lack of bitter taste. The extra molecule of oxygen in Potassium Iodate (KIO3), can guarantee the Iodate's continued freshness without adding stabilizers. The Potassium Iodate we offer is a 85mg tablet, 200 tablets to a bottle. It should be kept sealed, dry, and out of reach of children. If unopened, it should be effective for decades. Use during a NUCLEAR EMERGENCY ONLY.

TAKING POTASSIUM IODATE

The tablets should be taken as a single daily dose within 3 hours of exposure, or up to 10 hours after exposure, although this is less effective. Authorities will tell you if there is a need to take KIO3.

The usual recommended “daily dose” is as follows:


Adults (including the elderly): 2 tablets
Children aged 3-12 years: 1 tablet
Children aged 1 month-3 years: ½ tablet
Newborns to 1 month: ¼ tablet
For young children or newborn children, the ½ or ¼ tablet may be crushed and taken mixed with milk or water. Under emergency conditions ½ tablet may be given to newborns as a starting dose.
In cases of prolonged exposure, repeat dosing may be necessary:


1-2 days for a “small” reactor leak 
10 to 14 days for a “minor” event
Longer for a catastrophic event.
<end snip>

Again, be sure to read the full instructions and the cautions at the site on this drug.

Crikey, tough choices time I guess.   



 

[thirtyhz]

Multiple choices in this capitalistic environment, eh?

I bought Lugol's solution from a web based supplement vendor.  11.00 for a bottle, liquid formula.  Read (and watch videos) here about current nuclear issues, how to dose, and suitable types of iodine/KI to administer.

http://blog.imva.info/medicine/iodine-treatments-radiation-exposure Dr.s Sircus and Brownstein are interviewed, Lugol's is one of the suggestions.
Of note:  Lugol's isn't kelp, dulse, or sea vegetable based.

[slim2none]

Getting worse by the minute...

http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2011/05/10/japan-confirms-fukushima-nuclear-reactor-4-leaning-danger-complete-collapse-22578/

Japan Confirms Fukushima Nuclear Reactor 4 Leaning And In Danger Of Complete Collapse

 Posted by Alexander Higgins - May 10, 2011 at 6:45 pm

Excerpt (from Russia Today if I'm reading it correctly, other videos available for those who can see them):

<<This began as speculation among those of us watching the webcam… Just tonight there was an announcement from the Japanese government that work has began to shore up the building from collapsing. The Building contains fuel rods from 3 to 4 reactors in there… If the building were to collapse you would have all the fuel rods from the spent fuel pool scattered around on the ground and the radiation levels would shoot up so high that it would make it very hard for workers to do any work in the area. The flow of information has been limited to control public perception of the disaster. >>