MEDICAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS RELATED TO THE GOIANIA ACCIDENT

On 13 September 1987, a severe radiation accident occurred in the city of Goiania in central Brazil. Approximately 250 people were directly affected by the radiation, receiving slight to very severe external, p artial or whole body, irradiation, and presenting internal and externa l contamination, Fourteen patients developed some degree of marrow fai lure, eight developed the clinical signs and symptoms of acute radiati on syndrome (ARS), and four eventually died of ARS complications. Twen ty-eight people showed acute localized radiation injuries ranging from first to third degree. The author describes the circumstances of the event, the first-aid measures taken on the site, and the medical struc ture organized to triage and treat the casualties. Aspects relating to hospital contamination control, radiation protection and decontaminat ion procedures are also discusses.