First Responders in Cyprus Readied for Radiological Emergencies

To accommodate the working schedule of the ambulance staff, who worked in double shifts during this course, three sessions were organized — with the inaugural virtual training event held from 11 to 15 January followed by two more sessions in late January.

Beginning with a broad overview of relevant concepts and general on-scene guidance, the training courses explored the radiation protection principles which apply to all first responders, and the details on the specific functions and duties of ambulance crew and medical technicians.

“This was the first IEC virtual training course on First Responders conducted in Cyprus for the Ambulance Service,” said Stacey Horvitz, an Associate Emergency Preparedness Officer in the IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC). “Participants were able to learn not only the theoretical aspects of responses to nuclear or radiological emergencies, but they were also engaged in practical virtual sessions that enabled them to enhance their capabilities in various reality-based scenarios on first response,” she said.

The participants learned how best to assign duties and allocate resources under moments of extreme pressure. They were briefed on basic hazards they might face and how best to protect themselves and those at the scene affected by radiation. The training also included a series of tabletop scenarios for medical personnel and response officials, simulating emergency scenarios that required both quick reactions and close coordination to address.

The training course was developed on the basis of the recently-revised Manual of First Responders to a Radiological Emergency, an IAEA publication first released in 2006. The revised edition reflects the latest technical guidance related to radiological emergencies and is expected to become publicly available in the first quarter of 2021.