PRESS RELEASE

POTASSUM IODIDE (KI) TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO SOME HANCOCK COUNTY RESIDENTS

 

The Hancock County Health Department and the Hancock County Office of Emergency Management are distributing Potassium Iodide (KI) tablets to residents of the northern part of Hancock County who reside, work and attend school within the ten-mile Emergency Planning Zone of the Beaver Valley Power Station in Shippingport, PA.

The distribution of the tablets is being done to insure that in the event of a radiological emergency at the power station, the possible exposed population will be able to take the tablets as soon as possible, immediately following exposure to radiation. Potassium Iodide (KI) is a safe and stable form of iodine that provides protection from radioiodine. Like the iodine found in table salt, radioiodine is collected and stored in the thyroid gland. KI protects the thyroid gland by saturating the thyroid. That in turn will allow the radioactive iodine to pass through the body via the kidneys.

Taking KI tablets is strictly voluntary and should only be done at the direction of state and local authorities. Hello,

 

Tomorrow, June 6th we will be doing a KI distribution at the Hancock County Health Department from 2PM-6PM. We hope to see you there.

All health departments in the northern panhandle will be participating in this drill. Please see the attached document.