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Any resident who has declared their place of residence in Vilnius and has presented an identity document will receive 4 potassium iodide tablets free of charge at the pharmacy according to pre-issued electronic prescriptions. You will also receive instructions for use in Lithuanian, Russian, Polish and English.
Those who live in Vilnius but have not declared their place of residence in the capital, Camelia pharmacies have the opportunity to buy potassium iodide tablets on their own.
The tablets should be used in the event of a nuclear accident on the recommendation of the Government or the Ministry of Health. In the event of a nuclear accident, Vilnius residents would be warned in three ways: by audible sirens, short warning messages to mobile phones, and by radio, television and other means.
Based on currently issued emails. Prescriptions valid for 30 days, residents will be able to pick up potassium iodide tablets before November 17.
The Municipality of Vilnius advises that if the patient cannot go to the pharmacy himself for objective reasons (for example, disability), the potassium iodide tablets that belong to him can be taken by the patient’s representative, who has presented the document identity of the person represented in the pharmacy.
Potassium iodide tablets are being distributed due to the operation of the Astrava nuclear power plant in Belarus, which will start operations in November. Experts doubt the reliability of this power plant – there were several incidents during its construction, the quality of work is in doubt. The city of Astrava is 45 kilometers from Vilnius, so if an accident occurs at a nuclear power plant, people living within a radius of 100 km would be in danger due to the release of radioactive iodine into the atmosphere. Residents of the Vilnius district also enter this territory.
Camelia Pharmacies
© Photo of the authors
What is worth knowing?
“In the event of a nuclear accident, radioactive iodine can spread through our environment: when we breathe in contaminated air or eat contaminated food, radioactive iodine begins to accumulate in the thyroid gland, damaging it and often causing long-term thyroid cancer.” says Camelia Zach, Camelia pharmacist.
Potassium iodide tablets can protect against the harmful effects of radioactive iodine, since the stable iodine they contain accumulates in the thyroid gland and prevents radioactive iodine from entering it.
“Potassium iodide tablets only protect against radioactive iodine, but not against other substances released during a nuclear accident. Therefore, in the event of a disaster, it would be mandatory to take not only this, but also other preventive measures recommended by the authorities. responsible for handling the situation, ”says K. Zacharevic, Camelia pharmacist.
Potassium iodide tablets for the protection of the thyroid gland are used only when radioactive iodine particles are released into the environment and only after receiving recommendations from the Ministry of Health or other responsible state institutions.
“It is recommended to take these tablets less than 24 hours before. to possible inhalation or ingestion of radioactive iodine. Blocking the thyroid gland with potassium iodide is also effective 2 hours after exposure to the harmful substance, but no later than 8 hours. Otherwise, the use of potassium iodide can be harmful to the body, “says Camelia, a pharmacist.
Zacharevic emphasizes that a single daily dose of potassium iodide tablets protects the thyroid gland from exposure to radioactive iodine for 24 hours. It should be taken with food and the amount in a single dose depends on the age of the person.
In case of an accident:
• Newborns less than 1 month old should receive a quarter tablet or 16 mg.
• for babies 1 month to 3 years: half a tablet or 32 mg;
• for children from 3 to 12 years: the full tablet or 65 mg;
• children from 12 years and adults: two tablets or 130 mg.
For alcoholic iodine solution and iodized salt – strict no
Zacharevic emphasizes that potassium iodide is the only preparation that should be used in an emergency to protect the thyroid gland. Neither iodine solution nor iodized salt will help protect the thyroid gland.
“The alcohol iodine solution is only for the skin, its active ingredient is not potassium iodide, but only iodine, a toxic substance that can cause chemical burns in the tissues, poisoning”, says the pharmacist Camelia.
– Do not drink it even diluted in water. Although iodized salt helps to stimulate thyroid function, it is advisable to ingest about 1.5 kg of salt, equivalent to a dose of 130 mg of potassium iodide. Obviously, eating so much salt is strictly prohibited and this action can only harm your health ”.
Order number: PT_85529009
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