Iodine tablets are only slightly effective in counteracting the effects of nuclear radiation, but really, there is no cure for a nuclear disaster, according to the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board.
Addressing the board in Galway yesterday, Dr Sheelah Ryan urged people to be calm and to return to the idea that things may never happen, but if they do, we will be prepared in time.
However, Dr Ryan sad, in the event of a biological or chemical threat, various emergency preparations were underway among medical experts and other professionals. She also said the Taoiseach is holding a meeting this week to discuss the national emergency plan of 1992, which is now under review.
She added: "Things are so unprecedented in terms of what happened on September 11th that nobody could say what could be needed to respond. In the last number of years the Western Health Board has been co-ordinating simulated emergency exercises for shipwrecks, airplane disasters, multiple pile-ups and train crashes. We have also formulated a policy on outbreak control for infectious diseases, so we have the teams in place, and that will stand to us.
"Regarding the use of iodine tablets for the nuclear aspects, they are probably most of use for children under five but they need to be taken plenty of time in advance."
She assured the board that if anything was to happen, people would be alerted and contacted in time. However, she said "there is no cure for the nuclear disaster, but the message we wish to send out is to appeal for calm."