Pennsylvania Health Department Distributing Potassium Iodide to People Living, Working Near Nuclear Power Plants

Previously Distributed Tablets Expire August 31, 2010.

New Tablets Available Beginning September 1, 2010.

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Health will provide free potassium iodide, or KI, tablets to people who live or work within a 10-mile radius of Pennsylvania's five nuclear power plants beginning next month.

The KI tablets that were distributed previously by the commonwealth will expire on Aug. 31 and should be discarded in the trash. The pills should not be used after the expiration date.

The new KI tablets will be distributed beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1, through Thursday evening, Sept. 3, at sites across Pennsylvania. Hours will be from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30p.m., with the exception of Montgomery County's site, which will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

If for any reason people are unable to pick up KI during the initial three-day distribution, or if they decide at a later time that they'd like to get KI, Health Department offices will maintain a supply and will make it available for pick up by the public during normal business hours. The locations are listed on the department's Web site, www.health.state.pa.us.

Pennsylvania has five nuclear power plants: Beaver Valley Power Station, Limerick Generating Station, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, and Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station.

Each person who lives within the 10-mile radius of one of the five power plants will be eligible to receive four 65-milligram tablets per person. Individuals will be allowed to pick up tablets for their family members and those who are unable to pick them up on their own.

In addition to the tablets, instructions will be available detailing how to store the tablets and when they should be taken. Health department staff also will be on site to answer questions.

The public is reminded to not take KI during a test of the Emergency Alert System or during a test of the sirens located near nuclear power plant sites. Residents should only take the pills when directed to do so by the Governor or state public health officials.

KI will also be available for those who work within the 10-mile radius, but do not live there. Employers can contact the Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH to make arrangements to pick up tablets for their entire workforce.

School districts within the 10-mile radius also have the option of deciding whether to accept and how to distribute KI for their students. These schools have received instructions for requesting KI.

Residents who have questions about the KI tablets can also talk to their family physicians and pediatricians about whether or not there are specific reasons why KI should not be taken.

For additional information about potassium iodide, visit www.health.state.pa.us or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Below are the KI distribution sites for Sept. 1-3. Residents are welcome to go to any distribution site within the 10-mile radius of the nuclear facility in their area:


Beaver Valley Power Station

Beaver County - State Health Center, 300 S. Walnut Lane, Beaver, PA 15009

Limerick Generating Station

Berks County - Keystone Fire Company, 240 N. Walnut St., Boyertown, PA 19512 - Phone 610-367-2200

Chester County - Kimberton Fairgrounds, Rt. 113 South of Seven Stars Rd., Kimberton, PA 19442

Montgomery County - Hope Community Church, 2732 N. Charlotte St., Gilbertsville, PA 19525

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station

Lancaster County - Solanco High School, 585 Solanco Rd., Quarryville, PA 17566 - Phone: 717-786-2151

York County - South Eastern School District, Administration Building, Community Room, 377 Main St., Fawn Grove, PA 17321

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station

Columbia County - Bloomsburg State Health Center, 1000 Market St., Unit 4, Bloomsburg, PA 17815

Luzerne County - Butler Township Municipal Building, 415 W. Butler Dr., Drums, PA 18222 - Phone: 570-788-3547

Luzerne County - Luzerne County Community College, Public Safety Training Institute (PSTI) 1333 S. Prospect St., Nanticoke, PA 18634 - Phone: 570-740-0481

Three Mile Island Nuclear Station

Dauphin County - Harrisburg Mall, Upper Level Center Court, 3601 Paxton St., Harrisburg, PA 17111

Lancaster County - Masonic Village, Freemasons Cultural Center, 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022

York County - Fairview Township Fire Department, 340 Lewisberry Rd., New Cumberland, PA 17070

York County - Manchester Township Municipal Building, 3200 Farmtrail Rd., York, PA 17406

CONTACT: Stacy Kriedeman
(717) 787-1783

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health


RELATED LINKS
http://www.state.pa.us
http://www.health.state.pa.us





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