After a radiation emergency,
food and water sources may
become contaminated with
radioactive material.
Consuming contaminated food and
water will cause radioactive
material to get inside your
body,
but you can eliminate or reduce
the amount of contamination by
taking a few precautions.
Let's talk about what you can
safely eat and drink after a
radiation emergency.
Public health officials will
test drinking water supplies to
make sure they are safe.
Until those results are
available,
bottled water is the only water
that is definitely free of
contamination.
Be sure to stock bottled water
in your emergency supplies.
Boiling tap water does not get
rid of radioactive material.
You can drink water, juices,
or other drinks in sealed
containers.
Drinks in your refrigerator or
freezer are also safe to drink.
The package protects the liquid
inside from radioactive
material.
If you think the container or
package may have radioactive
material on the outside,
use a damp cloth or clean towel
to wipe it off before opening
it.
Put the used cloth or towel in a
plastic bag or other sealable
container and place the bag in
an out-of-the-way place,
away from other people and pets.
Water in other containers in
your home,
such as a toilet tank or hot
water heater will also be free
of radioactive material.
You can still use tap or well
water for cleaning yourself and
your food.
Even If the tap water is not
contaminated with radioactive
material,
public health officials may
recommend that you drink bottled
water instead of tap water.
There may be damage to the water
system that could allow other
kinds of contamination to enter
the system.
You can still use tap water for
decontamination.
Radioactive material that gets
into surface water or ground
water sources will be diluted to
very low levels by the water and
will be safe to use for washing
skin, hair, and clothing.
Washing with tap water that may
be slightly contaminated is
better than not washing at all.
Eat food in sealed containers,
such as cans, bottles, boxes,
etc. Unspoiled food in your
refrigerator, freezer,
or pantry is also safe to eat.
Wipe off food containers before
opening them,
and wipe off counters, pots,
dishes,
and utensils with a damp cloth
or clean towel before cooking or
eating.
Put the used cloth or towel in a
plastic bag or other sealable
container and place the bag in
an out-of-the-way place,
away from other people and pets.
Do not pick or eat food from
your garden until emergency
officials advise that it is safe
to do so.
Just like people's food,
pet food in sealed containers -
cans, bottles,
and boxes - will be safe for
animals to eat.
Wipe off pet food containers
with a damp cloth or clean towel
before opening them.
Wipe off pet bowls,
dishes and mats too.
Put the used cloth or towel in a
plastic bag or other sealable
container and place the bag in
an out-of-the-way place,
away from other people and pets.
Nursing mothers who are near the
affected area can be exposed to
radiation, and can eat, drink,
or breathe in radioactive
material.
Radioactive material can be
passed to babies through breast
milk.
If you are near the affected
area and breastfeeding,
consider temporarily stopping
breastfeeding and switching to
either breast milk that was
pumped and stored before the
exposure or formula until you
can be seen by a doctor.
Formula and feeding supplies
should be cleaned with a damp
cloth or clean towel.
Put the used cloth or towel in a
plastic bag or other sealable
container and place the bag in
an out-of-the-way place,
away from other people and pets.
If no other source of food is
available for your baby,
continue to breastfeed.
Wash your nipple and breast
thoroughly with soap and warm
water and gently wipe around and
away from your baby's mouth
before nursing.
If you decide to temporarily
discontinue breastfeeding,
you can still pump your breast
milk and discard it.
For additional questions or
concerns, contact your doctor.
Remember,
it's important to take
appropriate precautions to
reduce the amount of
contamination on the foods you
eat or drink.
This keeps radioactive material
from getting inside your body.
Be sure to stay tuned for
updates from emergency officials
for the latest information on
food and water safety.