Potassium iodide (KI) is a type of salt that is used to block the uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid following a release of radioactive iodine (RAI) from a nuclear power plant (NPP). The Food and Drug Administration (the medical authority on potassium iodide in the US) has determined that potassium iodide is a safe and effective medication for preventing thyroid exposure to radioactive iodine and the agency endorses its use as a supplementary safety measure to evacuation, or sheltering in place, if there is evidence that persons will be exposed to harmful levels of radioactive iodine.
There is strong scientific evidence that children, and especially young children, are at greatest risk of developing thyroid cancer and other thyroid abnormalities following exposure to RAI. Public health authorities strongly urge the administration of KI if indicated.
To be effective, KI must be administered prior to, or soon after, exposure to RAI. Therefore, it must be located in schools where students will have ready access to it. The NC Department of Public Instruction, the NC Division of Public Health, your local school board and your local health department have endorsed an emergency preparedness program involving stockpiling of KI in schools and providing appropriate training and education to administrators, faculty, staff and students. Kl has been (or will soon be) stockpiled in all NC public schools located within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs) around nuclear power plants located in or adjacent to NC. NC General Statute 115–307. Duties of teachers, by interpretation, provides for the administration of KI to students in a radiological emergency.
Local emergency response plans currently provide for evacuation and relocation of students as the first response to a NPP incident. Administration of KI is a secondary response and will occur only when the State Health Director (or other authorized person) determines it is indicated. The State Health Director (or designee) will make a recommendation for the administration of KI to the public only in a situation where there is evidence that exposure to potentially harmful levels of RAI will likely occur before students can be evacuated to a safe area.
The Food and Drug Administration (considered the medical authority on KI in the United States) has studied the use and adverse effects of KI extensively. The only contraindication for taking KI in an emergency situation is allergy to iodine. There also are a couple of rare disorders associated with iodine allergy identified on the attached Q and A information sheet. Please read this sheet carefully and if you have questions related to whether or not your child should receive KI in an emergency, discuss these with your child’s physician. Should a radiation emergency requiring administration of KI occur, all students, including your child will receive one dose of KI unless you sign the OPT-OUT line below indicating that you do not want your child to receive KI. This form must be reauthorized at the beginning of each school year.