State Officials Offer Travel Tips for Nuclear Medicine Patients
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Environmental Protection
Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty and Homeland Security Director Keith Martin today advised residents receiving nuclear medicine treatments that residual radiation from these treatments may cause travel delays due to increased security at places such as airports, rail stations, ports, international border crossings, bridges, tunnels and large public gatherings. "Although the radioactive material used in nuclear medicine treatments are short-lived, it still may require several days after a treatment for a patient to stop emitting detectable levels of radiation," Secretary McGinty said. "Many transportation checkpoints, such as airport boarding areas and international border crossings on highways, now include scans for radiation. A patient still emitting radiation from medical treatment could be delayed at one of these checkpoints." McGinty said that detection equipment can pick up the radiation a patient is emitting, but the monitoring equipment may not be sophisticated enough to detect the type of radioactive material, and security officials may err on the side of caution, delaying the patient's travel until the situation can be evaluated. "In these days of heightened security, radiation scans are being conducted at more and more places," Martin said. "Security officials need to take these kinds of steps to protect the public. While these officials need to err on the side of safety, I am advising security personnel to be aware that nuclear medicine treatments may be the reason for some radiation detection. I also am asking nuclear medicine patients for their patience and understanding in support of the people and programs that are aimed at protecting all of our residents." The officials advise patients undergoing nuclear medicine treatments to consult with their health-care providers as to how long they may emit detectable radiation following the treatment. With vacation planning in full swing, patients may want to try and schedule travel after this detectable time period has passed, if possible, to avoid any difficulties. Another option is to request a letter of explanation from a physician, with a contact name and phone number for security officials to contact to verify the information. Some common medical procedures that could result in patients emitting radiation for a period of days include stress tests, hyperthyroid treatments and bone scans. Secretary McGinty and Martin urge patients to plan their travel with their nuclear medicine treatments in mind, and are asking for cooperation from health-care providers and facilities in giving patients supporting documentation concerning their treatments. "Pre-planning can help avoid travel delays, and concern among security officials, during the busy summer travel season," Martin said. CONTACT: Ron Ruman (717) 787-1323 |
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