Ki pills where to buy

All homes and businesses within 10 km of nuclear facilities are encouraged to have on hand potassium iodide KI pills. Anyone within 50 km of nuclear facilities is welcome to order KI for delivery. KI the chemical name for potassium iodide is a salt of stable not radioactive iodine. It is an essential nutrient needed in small quantities for the thyroid gland to function properly.

KI comes in tablet form and can be easily swallowed. It now requires all homes and businesses within 10 km of a nuclear station to receive a supply of KI pills. The effectiveness of KI as a specific blocker of thyroid radioiodine uptake is well established.

When taken in the recommended dose and at the right time, KI is effective in reducing the risk of thyroid cancer in individuals or populations at risk of inhalation or ingestion of radioiodines. KI fills up the thyroid with nonradioactive iodine and prevents the uptake of the radioactive molecules. KI does not protect against other types of radiation.

In the very unlikely event of an emergency that results in a release of radiation to the public, the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario will provide instructions through radio, TV, Internet and other available channels on where, when, how, and by whom KI should be taken. It is important to wait for this notification. Do not take the pills unless instructed to do so.

You would only need to take the pills for a short period of time, likely 1 — 2 days. If necessary, and for younger children, tablets can be crushed in food or dissolved in fluids.

In case of overdose, get medical help or call a Poison Control Centre immediately. Phone or Can potassium iodide KI be used to protect against radiation from bombs other than radioactive iodine, such as radiation from a dirty bomb? Who really needs to take potassium iodide KI after a nuclear radiation release? What dosages of potassium iodide KI should be taken for specific exposure levels?

Who should not take potassium iodide KI or have restricted use? As a doctor, should I recommend potassium iodide KI for my patients who request it? How do I know that potassium iodide KI will be available in case of an emergency?

The effectiveness of KI as a specific blocker of thyroid radioiodine uptake is well established. When administered in the recommended dose, KI is effective in reducing the risk of thyroid cancer in individuals or populations at risk for inhalation or ingestion of radioiodines. KI floods the thyroid with non-radioactive iodine and prevents the uptake of the radioactive molecules, which are subsequently excreted in the urine.

Potassium iodide KI works only to prevent the uptake of radioactive iodine into the thyroid gland. It is not a general radioprotective agent. The FDA guidance prioritizes groups based on age, which is the primary factor for determining risk for radioiodine-induced thyroid cancer.

Those at highest risk are infants and children, as well as pregnant and nursing females because of the potential for KI to suppress thyroid function in the developing fetus and the newborn. The recommendation is to treat them at the lowest threshold with respect to predicted radioactive dose to the thyroid. Anyone over 18 years old and up to 40 years old should be treated at a slightly higher threshold. Finally, anyone over 40 years old should be treated with KI only if the predicted exposure is high enough to destroy the thyroid and induce lifelong hypothyroidism thyroid deficiency.

This has now been extended to schools Fundy Shores and Pennfield elementary schools. Residents receive an information pamphlet on KI pills that is distributed door to door. In addition to residences, there are several KI stockpile locations within 50 km of the nuclear generating station. There has also been a modification for the KI pill distribution regulations at the Gentilly-2 plant in Quebec. After evaluating radiological risk, Gentilly-2 no longer represents a risk to surrounding populations , following decommissioning projects that have taken place since This means that KI pills are not a requirement.

In fact, previously eligible citizens are now encouraged to dispose of the KI pills that they have in stock. Skip to main content Skip to footer. 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.