Global Security Newswire

The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration on Monday said it had offered training to 100 medical professionals in Kuwait on treating radiation injuries that could be caused by the detonation of a radiological "dirty bomb" (see GSN, March 2).

Participants included doctors and nurses, along with additional hospital personnel and first responders. Two doctors from India also joined the training session, according to an NNSA press release that did not give specific dates for the program.

The growing employment of radiation sources in medicine, industry and other sectors necessitates preparing medical providers to deal with potential exposures to such potentially lethal materials, the agency said.

Authorities in the United States and abroad for years have also warned that terrorists might produce and detonate a weapon that would use conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material (see GSN, March 7).

“The goal of the course taught in Kuwait was to help prepare medical personnel to assist and treat contaminated patients,” NNSA Associate Administrator Joseph Krol said in provided comments. “The training in Kuwait is another example of NNSA’s commitment to work with foreign governments in improving emergency preparedness and response programs. We are fortunate to have dedicated professionals who are truly leaders in their fields working to promote President Obama’s nuclear security agenda" (U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration release, March 12).