WTRF

West Virginia County to give Potassium Iodine tablets to residents near Power Station in case they are exposed to radiation

John Lynch

POINT REYES STATION, CA - MARCH 15: A bottle of Potassium Iodide is seen at the West Marin Pharmacy on March 15, 2011 in Point Reyes Station, California. In the wake of explosions at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, there has been a rush on potassium iodide tablets and strong iodine solution in the United States as residents fear radiation contamination. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

(WTRF) Potassium Iodide tablets are going to be made available to residents in Northern West Virginia in case they are exposed to radiation.

Potassium Iodide (KI) tablets will be passed out 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.

Each person will get a two-day supply, enough time to evacuate the area.

The distribution of the tablets is being done to ensure 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.

Hancock County says Potassium Iodide 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. Potassium Iodide protects the thyroid gland by saturating the thyroid, this will allow the radioactive iodine to pass through the body via the kidneys.

The event is scheduled from 2 pm-6 pm at the Hancock County Health Department on Tuesday

The Ohio, Brooke, Tyler, and Wetzel County health departments will all be present as well at the event, along with the counties’ EMA teams.