Education on KI tablets

The region is looking to educate residents about KI tablets through an information video.

The Durham Region Health Department has developed the video to help promote the availability of potassium iodide (KI) tablets for residents and businesses located within a 50 km radius of the nuclear generating stations in Pickering and Darlington.

Entitled, “KI Pills and Your Family,” the video is available on the department’s YouTube channel.

“This lighthearted video aims to help educate the public about the purpose of KI pills and to build awareness of the availability of the pills for those who live and work near Durham Region’s nuclear generating stations,” said Lisa Fortuna, director of health protection for the region. “The video also explains the use of KI pills for pregnant and breastfeeding women and newborn babies.”

KI is a stable iodine salt used in reducing the risk of thyroid cancer in the event of a radioactive accident.

Newborns, infants, children, adolescents, pregnant and breastfeeding women are at the highest risk of negative health effects to the thyroid from radioactive iodine.

They should be first to receive KI tablets in the event of  a nuclear accident, says a press release from the region.

Since 2015, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has required that KI tablets be pre-distributed to all homes and businesses within a 10 km radius of the generating stations.

There is currently no law stating KI tablets have to be distributed to residents outside of planning zone.

The initial pill distribution campaign in 2015 saw more than 200,000 KI tablets delivered to homes and businesses.

“The health department continues to promote this initiative to ensure that anyone new to the area is aware of the availability of KI tablets for their residence or business, and to encourage existing area residents and businesses to confirm that they have their supply of KI tablets,” explained Fortuna.

To learn more about KI tablets, watch the new video on YouTube, visit durham.ca/KI, or call the health department’s Environmental Help Line at 905-723-3818 or 1-888-777-9613.

For more information and to order a free supply of KI tablets, visit preparetobesafe.ca.