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The symbol is to be placed close to the source, either on its shield or a point of access. The smallest the symbol should be produced is 3.0 centimetres (1.2 in), which makes its placement on most sources difficult due to their small size.[4] The symbol is intended to be hidden from view under normal conditions, and only be revealed to a person when they start attempting to dismantle a piece of equipment, such as removing outer housing of equipment.[4]

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Kuschner WG, Blanc PD. Acute responses to toxic exposures. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 103.

The symbol consists of a triangle, with a black border, and a background of Pantone red No. 187, the symbols are black, with a white outline. While yellow is specified in ISO 3864-4 for usage with warning symbols and messages, it was found that red was more effective at conveying "danger" than yellow, which was viewed as the less serious "caution".[4]

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The intended usage of the supplementary radiation warning symbol, is to warn and discourage anyone attempting to dismantle a piece of equipment containing either a IAEA Category 1, 2 or 3 sealed radiation source, which is any sealed source that can cause serious injuries or death if a person is exposed to it.[4]

Lost nuclear sources, or "orphan sources" have presented a hazard to the public dating from at least the early 1960s. These often originated from larger equipment being dismantled by individuals in search of metal for scrap. Even the source itself, often contained in a metal housing that can appear valuable.

Hazardsymbols and meanings

During a study in the early 2000s, it was found that only 6% of those surveyed in India, Brazil and Kenya could correctly identify the meaning of the trefoil symbol.[1] Brazil is notable for being the location of the 1987 Goiânia accident, one of the worst incidents involving a orphan source that killed four people, contaminated at least 250 others and caused the contamination of multiple locations and vehicles.

It was an eye-opening experience. Initial interpretations of the symbols were that something bad could happen and caution was needed—but the source of that threat wasn't understood. Many thought it was a warning of AIDS, electricity, toxins or even a road hazard.

The symbol consists of three elements: A trefoil on the top, representing and warning of radiation. Five lines emanate in an arc towards the bottom of the triangle. On the bottom left, there is a skull and crossbones, signifying death. On the bottom right, there is a running figure, with an arrow pointing right, away from the skull and crossbones.[4] The combined icons created a symbol that virtually uniformly conveyed a message of "Danger—Run Away—Do Not Touch!".[1] The use of three separate pictograms, contained within a larger triangular symbol was chosen for its success in inducing the desired response from viewers.[1]

Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

In 2001, the "new warning symbol project" was authorized by IAEA Member States. The objective was to create a single symbol, that would be understood worldwide by someone at any age, with nearly any level of education, or not knowing about radiation, as "Danger—Run Away—Do Not Touch!".[1] Five years of work developed 50 symbols as part of the first phase. The symbols were taken to the Vienna International School in Austria. This school's many students hail from over 80 countries, and included children not yet able to read. This enabled personnel to narrow the designs to those that gave off an intuitive message of "danger" or "bad".[1]

Radiationsymbol tattoo

Radiation hazardsymbol

Updated by: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

In the aftermath of repeated incidents where the public was exposed to radiation from orphan sources, a common factor reappeared: individuals who encountered the source were unfamiliar with the trefoil radiation warning symbol, and were in some cases not familiar with the concept of radiation.[1]

This process resulted in five symbols for further consideration. These symbols were then checked by IAEA Member States to confirm that the proposed symbols did not have any negative associations or connections to religion, culture and history.[1]

In 2004, the ISO and Gallup Institute conducted further investigations to determine which of the five symbols were most effective. 1,650 individuals, in 11 countries[a] were shown the symbols by Gallup staff. These individuals crossed the spectrum: age, education background, gender, rural/urban.[1] Among things assessed by the researchers were: "What were the respondents' initial reactions to the symbols?" and "What action would they take if they saw these symbols?"[1]

All five symbols were understood to convey "caution", but only the symbol that included a skull conveyed "danger of death".[1]

Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Radiationsymbol PDF

The person may need to stay in the hospital for more treatment. Swallowing poison can have severe effects on many parts of the body. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach are possible. Holes (perforations) in the esophagus and stomach may result in serious infections in the chest and abdominal cavities, which may result in death. Surgery may be needed to repair the perforations. Cancer of the esophagus is a high risk in people who live after ingesting hydrochloric acid.

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This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

The symbol is not intended to replace the trefoil symbol in use since the mid-1940s (ISO 361, also described in ISO 7010/W003), but rather supplement it. It is not intended for use on transport or freight containers, transport vehicles, or on doors and walls of buildings and rooms.[4][5]

Hydrochloric acid is a clear, poisonous liquid. It is a caustic chemical and highly corrosive, which means it immediately causes severe damage to tissues, such as burning, on contact. This article discusses poisoning from swallowing or breathing in hydrochloric acid.

Hoyte C. Caustics. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 143.

The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The person may receive:

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How well a person does depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment was received. The faster a person gets medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

ISO 21482 is a technical standard that specifies the design and usage of a "supplemental radiation warning symbol", a warning symbol. It is intended to warn people of the dangers of radiation hazards posed by sealed sources, and encourage the viewer to get away from the source. The symbol's design was the result of a joint project between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the early 2000s.[1]

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. DO NOT give water or milk if the person is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.