European Hospitals on Standby for Japan

No level of radiation is 'safe' and as levels in Japan reach a crisis stage, it's good to know that there are some who looked ahead to the possibility of this event.  From the BBC:

Five hundred bone marrow transplant centres across Europe are being asked to be on standby to treat Japanese radiation victims if the need arises.

The European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) has (been) alerting its members, which include 3,000 medics in specialist units.

It is unclear how many in Japan might need their help, but the centres have plans and protocols ready to action.  Many were drawn up after the 11 September 2001 terror attacks.

It will be up to each centre to decide whether or not to take on any patients. In the UK there are 55 centres that could potentially help.

The president of the EBMT, Professor Alejandro Madrigal, said: "We are asking centres to tell us their level of response and capacity so we can measure the level of commitment at centres."

Professor Ray Powles, chair of the nuclear accident committee for EBMT, said it may be that between 20 and 30 workers at the nuclear Fukushima plant who are striving to contain the radiation will need treatment.

"It is too early to tell yet, but it is better to be prepared. If there was a humanitarian reason it would be something that could be offered. "We have contacted Japan directly and have also offered our services to them through the World Health Organization."

I have no TV service and that's probably for the best. As it is I ache at the images I see on the web and have stopped watching raw video footage altogether. It's all too much to wrap the brain around.

Later...maybe.
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