As part of the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program (CWBYCTP), contractors must have an emergency response process in place. Additionally, the CWBYCTP has created a specialized group, the Radiation Injury Treatment NetworkSM (RITNSM). The RITN is a national network of medical centers with expertise in the management of bone marrow failure and works with partners from other medical specialties to assist with managing acute radiation syndrome (ARS) and its health-related consequences. The mission of the RITN is to maximize health-related outcomes among casualties with ARS following a distant mass casualty disaster involving radiological, nuclear, or chemical agents resulting in marrow toxic injuries. The marrow creates new blood-forming cells each and every day. If the marrow is damaged and cannot do this, a person may need a bone marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. Many of the casualties with radiation injury from such an incident will be salvageable but will require intensive supportive care in an outpatient and/or inpatient setting.
RITN training
Training
The RITN has developed web-based training related to radiological disaster preparedness.
Each facility incorporates the RITN Acute Radiation Syndrome Treatment Guidelines into their response plans, conducts annual radiological disaster training, communication drills and participates in an annual tabletop exercise (a scenario-based discussion of the response process) to assess and improve plans, procedures, coordination, and preparedness.
RITN center locations
Centers are dispersed throughout the United States; some are pediatric treatment centers. For more information, visit the Radiation Injury Treatment Network website.