Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Radiation Emergencies
Radiation is a type of energy. People are exposed to small amounts of radiation every day from sources such as sunlight. A radiation emergency would involve larger amounts of radiation and could be caused by:
- Dirty bombs - a mix of explosives with radioactive powder
- Fallout from a nuclear bomb
- Accidental release from a nuclear reactor or a nuclear weapons plant
A lot of radiation over a short period can cause burns or radiation sickness. If the exposure is large enough, it can cause premature aging or even death.
Although there are no guarantees of safety during a radiation emergency, you can take actions to protect yourself. You should have a disaster plan. Being prepared can help reduce fear, anxiety and losses. If you do experience a disaster, it is normal to feel stressed. You may need help in finding ways to cope.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
It sits within Disasters.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Radiation Emergencies
28 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Strategy for EArly Recognition of Cancer, COPD & Heart Failure in the Emergency DepartmentNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
- Sensor-Assisted Prevention of Dehydration in Head and Neck Cancer PatientsM.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- AI-Assisted Chest X-Ray for Misplaced Endotracheal and Nasogastric Tubes and Pneumothorax in Emergency and Critical Care SettingsNational Taiwan University Hospital
- The Utilization of Ultrasound to Diagnose Pediatric Elbow FracturesNemours Children's Clinic
- The Clinical Efficacy of CT-Guided All-in-One Adaptive Emergency Radiotherapy for Spinal Cord Compression Caused by Spinal MetastasesPeking University Third Hospital
Research already completed
- Diagnostic Performance of the Ultra Low-Dose (ULD) Scanner vs. Diagnostic Performance With Standard X-rays in the Emergency Department Compared With Performance of the Standard Classical-dose Scanner for Trauma of the Dorsolumbar Spine, Pelvis and ExtremitiesCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes
- AI Assisted Detection of Fractures on X-Rays (FRACT-AI)Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
- AI Assisted Detection of Chest X-RaysOxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Shared Decision-Making for the Promotion of Patient-Centered Imaging in the ED: Suspected Kidney StonesBaystate Medical Center
- X-rays Trauma Request's by the Triage And Intake Nurse Intake and Referral Nurse:Centre Hospitalier Régional d'Orléans
- DRIHNC - Dehydration Reduction in Head & Neck CancerCase Comprehensive Cancer Center
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Learn More
- Federal Emergency Management AgencyFederal Emergency Management Agency
- Frequently Asked Questions about Radiation EmergenciesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- Radiation EmergenciesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- Radiation ProtectionEnvironmental Protection Agency
- What Causes Contamination versus ExposureCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Radioactive Hazard Release. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Radiation Emergencies, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.