USNH Yokosuka Offering Voluntary Internal Monitoring
By Richard McManus, USNH Yokosuka Public Affairs

While not medically indicated, U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Yokosuka will offer voluntary internal monitoring for Department of Defense (DoD) personnel and their family members.

Environmental and personal radiological monitoring by U.S. personnel has shown that exposure levels for individuals who traveled in the “warm zone,” which is 50 miles around Fukushima Dai-iichi Nuclear Power Plant, to be below minimal detectable activity and pose no significant health risks. Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY), which is located 192 miles south of Fukushima, is well outside the “warm zone.”

“There are no clinical indications that internal monitoring is necessary.” said Capt. Stephen Pachuta, USNH Yokosuka commanding officer. “However, we are offering the opportunity for internal monitoring to DoD-affiliated personnel.”

Appointments for screenings are available to service members, family members, DoD civilians or DoD contractors who were present in prefectures affected by the voluntary departure March 12 through April 17. To schedule an appointment, call USNH Yokosuka at 243-6788, Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Screenings will be available from July 26 - Aug. 22.

Internal monitoring is a passive, non-invasive procedure that measures levels of radioactivity in a person. There are two methods to conduct internal monitoring. One is using a handheld, portable detector placed near the torso. The other is a larger fixed unit that you stand inside; the door remains open while the participant is tested.

The internal monitoring process is painless, takes only a few minutes and people being screened do not receive any radiation during the procedure. Upon completion, subject matter experts will be available to explain results and answer questions about the screening.

USNH Yokosuka is the largest U.S. military treatment facility on mainland Japan and serves approximately 55,000 beneficiaries. A 47-bed core hospital in Yokosuka on the banks of Tokyo Bay is complimented by five branch health clinics in Japan, Korea and Diego Garcia.

Additional References:

Participation in the internal monitoring, how do they go about doing that?
http://www.japanbases.com/forums/af...30754.aspx

Q and A From CFAY Town Hall Meeting With PACOM Surgeon Rear Adm. Mittelman
http://www.japanbases.com/forums/af...30752.aspx