AST 2018 CHAMPIONS EDITION AST 2018 CHAMPIONS EDITION | Page 161

SPRD
devices
Volume
30 are avail-
able with or without
neutron detectors, which
enables customers to de-
termine a balance point
on deployment cover-
age, capability, and cost.
2018 CHAMPIONS Edition
Neutron detection can
be accomplished using Radiation is one of the most dangerous threats to responders. You can’t smell it or hear it. While
could be part of an attack, it may be a benign radiation source. But how do you know what
several different detec- it type
of radiation source you’re facing and if you have the right tools on hand to take action?
tion materials, three of
which are Helium-3 (He-3 Tube), zinc sulfide • Immediate access to information on the type
(ZnS), and sodium iodide doped with lithium
of radiological event enhances the safety of
(NaIL).
the frontline responder
• Reachback-enabled devices provide informa-
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
tion to secondary responders dispatched to
support the event
These are just a few of the key points to consid- • Spectroscopic information shared with deci-
er when building out your radiation detection
sion makers beyond the frontline enables the
deployment strategy.
mobilization of appropriate resources
Regardless of the tools you choose, proper ini-
tial training and refresher exercises are vital
in making sure your team is prepared to under-
stand alerts and how to react appropriately to ma-
licious materials.
Keep in mind the types of scenarios that you
could encounter, along with some key consider-
ations like, sensitivity, resolution, reachback and
neutron detection, when determining the right
mix of instruments for your toolkit.
Remember, one size does not
fit all. Different types and sizes
of detectors complement one
another during a radiological
event and provide a greater level
of safety.
A deployment strategy should in-
clude a mix of PSMs/PRDs, SPRDs,
and RIDs. Programs that incorpo-
rate a mix gain these key opera-
tional advantages:
(FLIR PRIMED Grant’s Lessons Learned: Ten of the most common mistakes Grant has
seen responders make on-scene and how you can avoid them.)
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