Health Department launches new video highlighting information on KI tablets in multiple languages

Whitby, Ontario - Durham Region Health Department is launching a new video to help highlight that information about KI tablets on preparetobesafe.ca is available in 10 languages. The languages were identified as the most common languages among Durham residents which includes Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, French, Hindi, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil and Urdu. The video is available on the Health Department’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/0l5oizM5s6Q.

“This video was created in partnership with the Welcome Centre Immigrant Services – Ajax,” said Lisa Fortuna, Director, Health Protection with Durham Region Health Department. “It was a positive opportunity to collaborate with the Welcome Centre’s staff and members to film this multilingual video that highlights the rich diversity of our community, neighbours, co-workers and friends.

“It’s important for us to ensure that all area residents, including those new to Durham Region, know that they can obtain KI information in their language. Everyone residing and working in a 10-kilometre radius of the Darlington and Pickering nuclear generating stations should have a supply of KI tablets available; however, KI tablets and information is also available free of charge to anyone living within a 50-kilometre radius of both facilities.”

KI is a stable iodine salt effective in reducing the risk of thyroid cancer in the event of a radioactive iodine release. In the highly unlikely event of a nuclear accident KI tablets are only to be taken when instructed by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.

As a requirement of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), pre-distribution of KI tablets took place in 2015, resulting in KI tablets being supplied to all area residents and businesses located within a 10-kilometres radius of both the Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations. Residents and businesses, as well as individuals who are new to the communities where the nuclear generating stations are located, are reminded to ensure that they have an adequate supply of KI tablets readily available.

Ontario Power Generation indicates that a serious nuclear accident is extremely unlikely and would take many hours and days to unfold. The Pickering nuclear generating station has operated for over 40 years without a serious accident, while the Darlington nuclear generating station has operated for over 25 years, also without a serious accident. KI tablets are to be used to protect the thyroid from negative effects that can result in the unlikely event of a nuclear emergency involving the release of radioactive iodine.

A limited supply of KI tablets is also available free of charge at several area pharmacies. The Health Department works in partnership with these pharmacies to help with local distribution:

• Bay Ridges Pharmacy, 1794 Liverpool Rd., Pickering
• Pickering Medical Pharmacy, 1885 Glenanna Rd., Pickering
• Liverpool Pharmacy, 725 Krosno Blvd., Pickering
• Global Drug Mart Remedy’s Rx, 130 Waverly Rd., Bowmanville
• Courtice Pharmasave, 2727 Courtice Rd., Courtice

For more information, or to obtain a free supply of KI tablets, visit preparetobesafe.ca, or call Durham Health Connection Line at 905-668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729.

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For more information, please contact the Health Department