Health Department’s new video raises awareness about KI tablets for residents and businesses

Whitby, Ontario – Durham Region Health Department has developed an informative new video to help promote the availability of potassium iodide (KI) tablets for residents and businesses located within a 50-kilometre radius of the Region’s two nuclear generating stations in Pickering and Darlington. Entitled, “KI Pills and Your Family”, the video is available on the Health Department’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W_rde527jg.

 “This light-hearted 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, Health Protection with the Health Department. “The video also explains the use of KI pills for pregnant and breastfeeding women and newborn babies.”

 KI is a stable iodine salt effective in reducing the risk of thyroid cancer in the event of a radioactive iodine release. Newborns, infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant and breastfeeding women are at the highest risk of the negative health effects to the thyroid from radioactive iodine; therefore, these individuals should be the first to receive KI tablets in the highly unlikely event of a nuclear accident.

Since 2015, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has required that KI tablets be pre-distributed to all homes and businesses within a 10-kilometre radius, also known as the Detailed Planning Zone (formerly called the primary zone), of the Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations. There is currently no requirement by the CNSC to have KI tablets distributed to residents outside of the Detailed Planning Zone; however, anyone living within 50-kilometres of either nuclear generating station who would like to access KI tablets can order a free supply.

The initial KI pills distribution campaign in 2015 resulted in over 200,000 KI tablets delivered to homes and businesses in the Detailed Planning Zone. Since that time, preparetobesafe.ca has processed over 29,840 orders.

“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 Ms. Fortuna.

To learn more about KI tablets, watch the new video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W_rde527jg, visit durham.ca/KI or call the Health Department’s Environmental Help Line at 905-723-3818 or 1-888-777-9613. For additional information and to order a free supply of KI tablets, visit preparetobesafe.ca.

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For more information, please contact Health Department.