County Health Department To Distribute Potassium Iodide Pills In Lacey On Tuesday

The Ocean County Health Department will be at the Lacey Township Community Center on North Main Street in Forked River to distribute free free potassium iodide (KI) pills to people who live or work within a 10-mile radius of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station on Tuesday.

“KI is being offered as a preparedness measure and not in response to any imminent danger or threat," according to a health department release.

The pills will be distributed from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Anyone who lives or works in the following towns is eligible for the pills:

Barnegat Light, Barnegat Township, Beachwood, Beach Haven, Berkeley Township, Toms River, Harvey Cedars, Island Heights, Lacey Township, Long Beach Township, Pine Beach, Ocean Township (Waretown), Ocean Gate, Seaside Park, Ship Bottom, South Toms River, Stafford, and Surf City.

Health Department officials are asking residents to check their current supply to identify if their pills are due to expire in March 2017. Residents with pills expected to expire may bring their old pills and trade them in for new ones.

“Potassium iodide, an ingredient found in table salt, can provide protection for the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine and can reduce the risk of thyroid cancer after a nuclear emergency," Ocean County Public Health Coordinator Daniel Regenye said. "If this should occur, public health officials would tell you when to take the KI tablet. Only one dose is recommended, more could increase the risk of side effects."

The remaining two locations, including dates and times available for this distribution include:

Waretown – Ocean County Fire and First Aid Training Center
200 Volunteer Way, Waretown
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
3:00pm to 7:30pm
Ocean County Southern Service Center
179 South Main Street, Manahawkin
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
4:00pm to 7:30pm

KI pills will also be distributed at the Ocean County Health Department at 175 Sunset Avenue, Toms River between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Residents who wish to receive KI tablets must bring some type of identification to show that they live or work within the 10 mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) area, such as driver’s license, property tax record, utility bill, employee ID card, paycheck stub.

One family member can pick up tablets for all members of the family. All KI sites will distribute fact sheets which include dosage and any other applicable information.

If you have any questions regarding KI tablets and distribution, please call 732-341-9700, ext. 7503. You can also visit the Health Department website at http://www.ochd.org or follow the Health Department at Twitter@OCpublichealth or like the Health Department on Facebook

Image: Patricia A. Miller