Potassium Iodide State Health Program

[Jennifer Groves]

Today I received a voucher in the mail from the MI Dept of Community Health offering free potassium iodide (KI)--an iodine pill for me to take in case there is a nuclear power plant emergency and radiation is released (the pill is supposed to protect the thyroid gland from radiation for 24 hrs). According to the voucher, everyone living w/in 10 miles of Cook received one of these vouchers.

I have lived at the same address for 10 years now. Cook Nuclear has been operating for much longer than that. This is the first time I've ever received a voucher for free KI.

Is this a new program? If so, are we really in more danger from a nuclear emergency now than we were in 2001? Or is this another "the-world-is-a-scary-place-so-you-must-trust-the-government-to-take-care-of-you" program?

After the last year or so of government fear tactics/manipulation (yes, I know government use of fear tactics has been around longer than that), I have to ask, why are they doing this now? Does anyone have any information on how and why this program was initiated? Are other states doing this also?

And of course, one has to wonder how the State of MI came up with the funding for this program when the state economy has reportedly been in such dire straits the past few years. To hear the State Senate/House of Reps tell it, they are just barely squeaking by. They can't be that bad off if they have plenty of our money for this program. Some state and federal programs need to be axed entirely.

The KI distribution may very well be a good idea; I'm all for safety and being prepared. But I suspect this whole program is designed to play into the larger "big brother" issue. It's voluntary, yes, but perhaps the real purpose is to demonstrate that the State of Michigan should be trusted to make our health decisions in the future.

If anyone has any information on this program, please share! And should we as a group research this and write to our elected officials and tell them to discontinue this program?

[Nancy Nail]

I received this program also. Read about it in the Herald Palladiunm, but not much real info available. I would be hesitant to use anything this Government is supplying free of charge for my well being since it does not ring true to the current trend.

[Gene Clem]

This was mentioned in the Kalamazoo Gazette:

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/09/curiosity_...

I guess the plan in the past was to hand them out when needed as they expire on the shelf in 5 or so years. We had dated supplies of these when I was working with atomic munitions while in the Army. They aren't dangerous as is, but now a days I don't know if I would want 'free' stuff; but I do not know if you can purchase your own supply. It is unusual, but should not be expensive.

[Sonja M Gleason]

Yes you can purchase it on your own

http://www.luckyvitamin.com/item/itemKey/68317

[Jennifer Groves]

Thanks for the info. I'm still in a quandary over this.

My concerns--and questions--are "why now?" If nuclear radiation is and always has been an imminent threat, why is the program just beginning now? Why hasn't this been standard fare, at least since 9-11? I'm wondering if this state program ties in to federal grant money in sync w/ the whole gov't health care package.

There has never been any recommendation--from info I've received--from either the State Health Dept or Cook Nuclear--about how we should have this remedy handy. I don't think the general population has even heard of this temporary "remedy". No public info campaign, nothing. Suddenly, without explanation, a flyer in the mail.

Secondly, what is this program costing us as taxpayers? If this is another fear tactic to gain more inroads for gov't ctrl--like some state gov'ts are pushing to require the H1N1 vacccine--it's a bad deal all around and we need to push legislators to end it.

[Jim Walker]

I don't think we should discourage this program but question the necessity of its implementation. If there is something we should know that prompted this response from the state government then we should know what those circumstances are. We got one too. Looks like there was some "stimulus" money laying around and Meijers is the lucky recipient this time. Wonder who they helped in the last election?...

[Jim Walker]

Maybe we as a group should make an effort to go to the community forum at LMC On October 7 or South Haven Ramada Inn tomorrow Octobver 5. Both events are reported to take place from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9p.m.

[B. Otto Wishman]

Taking Iodine in the case of a nuclear accident is valid. It fills your thyroid with good iodine, so it doesn't absorb the radiated Iodine. They tought us this in nuclear power school when I was in the Navy.

[Jennifer Groves]

I'm not questioning whether or not this helps, but am I the only one who finds it strange that suddenly, after decades of nuclear power plant operation, MDCH is just now launching a public campaign? I don't ever recall hearing anything about this from Cook, either. Not even so much as a suggestion that people should buy some KI and have it on hand.

Why now?

If the threat of a nuclear emergency has increased, the public has a right to know that. If not, then, to say the least, MDCH and Cook have been remiss--really negligent--in not getting this info out to the public when the plant first started, and every year thereafter. Not everyone has a military or medical background and would just happen to know this info.

Millions of dollars are spent on so many other health issues--we are bombarded constantly with ads re: AIDS, breast cancer, STDs, etc.--all very serious conditions. And MDCH and Cook couldn't spare a dime on public awareness for radiation issues?!

To me, this program says, "yes, you've all been in imminent danger for decades; today we finally decided to say something about that".

Either that, or there is no new threat, and the motivation behind this program is simply to manipulate the public with fear tactics. There's been a lot of that lately going around, what with Chicken Little in the White House.

[Jennifer Groves]

Thanks, Gene, for the link to the article. I agree with one comment left on the newspaper site--this KI handout is a roundabout way of scaring the populace into agreeing with cap and trade. If we only used "green" energy sources, then we wouldn't have to worry about nuclear emergencies... since they've just now become a threat!

Don't misunderstand--I am both a conservative and an environmentalist--I just can't stand the way libs manipulate environmental issues in their grab for power. I was green long before it was the "in" thing to do.

Honestly, if there is a major nuclear fallout, we have a lot more problems than just iodine! I suspect there are many other forms of radiation released that are just as harmful and for which we have zero protection.

Maybe nuclear radiation is a good topic for a town hall meeting w/ a few experts to explain the risks? If we arranged somehting like this soon--at a local high school, perhaps--there should be public interest in it. Not everyone will be able to make it to the Wed info sessions.

Jim is right--as many as possible of us should attend the info sessions. I can go to the afternoon session but not the evening session; anyone else interested in attending?

[Jennifer Groves]

btw, Cook Nuclear has been in operation since 1975.

The public info sessions will be held in the Mendel Center Dance Drama Room, also known as room F117, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm this Wed, 7 Oct.

[B. Otto Wishman]

The ways to avoid exposure to radiation are time, Distance and shielding. Ingesting Iodine is one of the worst ways to be exposed, because there is no distance, there is no shielding, and the time is a lot longer. If your thyroid is full, the iodine will be processed by the body and gotten rid of.

There has been no radiation released from any commercial nuclear reactor, the military on the other hand....

Look up SL-1 in Idaho Falls Idaho if you want to read about a bad incident.The large cement dome is still out there.