Published: 01/31/2008
The pill nobody wants; Public eschews KI pills; feds to stop distribution
The Amesbury Public Health Department has potassium iodide tablets that residents have not picked up. The pills protect people if there is an accident at the Seabrook nuclear power plant. Katie McMahon/Staff Photo
Staff Writer
In Amesbury, public health nurse Terry Arsenault says the response has been underwhelming at best.
"I don't think we have had many people pick them up," Arsenault said, noting the other members of the Health Department are responsible for distribution. "I think as a whole the distribution process needs to be re-evaluated. Schools have their supplies, but what about the rest of the population?"
Allison Heartquist of the Amesbury Health Department estimates her office has given out six tablets in the past two weeks.
In Seabrook, where the nuclear plant is located, a secretary in the town manager's office, Kelly O'Connor, said no one has come in for the tablets.
But in Salisbury, residents have been coming in regularly to pick up their tablets, said public health secretary Andrea Brochu. In Salisbury, the tablets are available any time during Health Department hours.
The lack of interest in KI tablets is a cause for concern for Citizens within a Ten Mile Radius advocacy group member Jack VanLoan.
"Anything you can do to protect yourself is worth it," VanLoan said. "It's like not getting a tetanus (shot) because you don't need it that often, people still get that."
VanLoan warns people of the dangers of living near the Seabrook station and notes the makings of a dirty bomb are right in our backyard.
"If you think of what would happen if there was an accident or terrorist attack then you will go and get the tablets, if you just think about the electricity coming out of the socket and you don't care where it comes from then you probably won't get the tablets, but there are reasons to pick them up," VanLoan said.
The state Department of Public Health strongly encourages those who live within emergency planning zones to obtain their free tablets. One family member may collect tablets for the entire family. The state encourages families to obtain pills for all family members - including children, even if their schools have already obtained KI.
"I would like to have them in case of a radiation leak," Morris said. "I don't want to go looking for them when I need them, and they are good for five years so what the heck, come in and get a three-day supply for the whole family."
The pills are available at the Newburyport Health Department tonight from 6:30 to 8. After tonight, Morris will accept written requests for KI tablets.
