Do not take KI pills unless you are instructed to do so by public health officials. During a nuclear emergency, you will be promptly notified by radio, television, Internet, sirens, automated phone calls and social media. KI saturates your thyroid gland, preventing radioactive iodine from being absorbed; over time, the radioactive iodine will decay and be harmlessly excreted in urine.
The overall benefit of taking KI during an emergency outweighs the risk of side effects. KI pills are effective for up to 12 years if they are stored in a dry location between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius. What is KI? When should it be taken? Are there side effects? For primary zones within 10 km : strategy adopted is to pre-distribute 2 doses per person per day for a maximum of 2 days.
It is not a good idea to take KI if you have certain medical conditions or problems. Babies need to be watched carefully if they take KI. The table below shows the smallest KI dose that different age groups can take which will protect the thyroid. KI comes in liquid, mg tablets and mg tablets. Since it is hard to cut many pills, the State Health Commissioner says that, in an emergency, it is safe for children at school or day care centers to take the whole pill.
It's better for children under 12 years old to take the mg pill, but it is safe to take the mg pill if that is the only one you have. For children or babies who cannot take pills, parents and caregivers can cut or crush the pill to make lower doses, or give the liquid form of KI. KI is helpful for about 24 hours. You should keep taking it once a day until the health department says to stop, or you are out of the emergency area.
KI can come as a pill or a liquid. Pills are available in mg or mg doses. KI is also available as a liquid. The manufacturers say KI stays "fresh" for years. If you keep it in a dry, dark and cool place, it should last for many years. Yes, though it may not widely available in drug stores near you.
Since it is not a prescription drug, you can buy it over the Internet. Each adult in the household should have 4 pills available, and each child should have two pills available. This is enough for two days supply. KI pills are available to children at schools in the 10 km zone, and select institutions in the 10 km zone such as health care facilities. KI tablets will also be available to the public at evacuation reception centres, and other locations designated by emergency officials.
In the very unlikely event of a radioactive release, it would take many hours and days to unfold. There would be time to respond to emergency instructions. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit www. If you want to know more about this KI distribution program in Durham Region, please call ; in Toronto you may call The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission CNSC — the federal agency that monitors the safe operation of nuclear stations — now requires that all homes and businesses within 10 km of a nuclear power station receive a supply of potassium iodide KI pills.
The pills have been available free of charge at select pharmacies, but will now be sent by mail due to increased safety standards. In the very unlikely event of a nuclear emergency and a release of radioactive iodine to the public, KI pills will help prevent the development of thyroid cancer, and are especially effective at safeguarding children's thyroid glands.
It is important for each household to have a supply of these pills because they are most effective if taken just before or soon after exposure to radioactive iodine. We recommend that physicians read our guidance Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies for more information. The FDA guidance discusses the rationale and methods of safe and effective use of KI in radiation emergencies. It specifically addresses threshold predicted thyroid radioiodine exposure for intervention and dosing by age group.
The recommendations for intervention are based on categories of risk for thyroid cancer, with the young prioritized because of increased sensitivity to the carcinogenic effects of radioiodine.
This guidance provides answers to questions that FDA has received as state and local governments develop emergency response plans involving the use of KI to protect against the effects of radioactive iodine.
Should I buy potassium iodide KI to keep on hand? KI works best if used within hours of exposure. Although FDA has not made specific recommendations for individual purchase or use of KI, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has contracted to purchase KI for states with nuclear reactors and states that have population within the mile emergency planning zone, e.
FDA will continue to work with interested pharmaceutical manufacturers to assure that high quality, safe, and effective KI products are available for purchase by consumers, by state and local authorities, and by federal government agencies electing to do so. What does potassium iodide KI do? Side effects are unlikely when KI is used at the recommended dose and for a short time. The following are possible side effects:.
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