Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Department of Health will offer free potassium iodide, or KI, to people who live within a ten-mile radius of the five nuclear power plants operating in Pennsylvania. The tablets will be available at 12 locations on Thursday, Aug. 12.

The upcoming distribution is for residents who were unable to take advantage of past KI events; have recently moved near nuclear power facilities; work or attend school within a ten-mile radius; or are unaware that KI tablets are regularly available through county and municipal health departments and state health centers.

KI, when taken as directed, helps protect the thyroid gland against the harmful effects of radioactive iodine that may be released during a radiological emergency. Because not all radiological releases involve radioactive iodine, residents should not take KI tablets unless directed to do so by Pennsylvania state health officials and the Governor.

Four 65-milligram tablets will be issued per person during the Aug. 12 distribution. People can also get KI tablets for their family members or others who are unable to pick them up on their own. Directions on how to store the tablets and when to take them will be provided.

Anyone who is not allergic to iodide can take KI. It is safe for pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding, people on thyroid medicine, and children and infants. Individuals who are unsure if they should take KI should consult a doctor.

Pennsylvania’s five nuclear power plants are closely regulated, secure and well maintained. The facilities are:

• Beaver Valley Power Station
• Limerick Generating Station
• Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station
• Susquehanna Steam Electric Station
• Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station

The tablets were first distributed by the department in 2002, and again in 2009 when the original tablets expired. If residents are unable to attend the clinics on Aug. 12, they can pick up KI tablets any time at county and municipal health departments or state health centers. Since last year, more than 550,000 KI tablets have been distributed to residents, businesses and schools located within a ten-mile radius of Pennsylvania’s nuclear facilities.

For more information, visit www.health.state.pa.us or call 1-877-PA-Health (877-724-3258).

Media contact: Holli Senior, 717-787-1783

Editor’s Note: KI Tablets will be available at the following distribution sites between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

• Butler Twp. Municipal Building, 415 Butler Dr., Drums, PA 18222
• Luzerne County Community College (Public Safety Institute), 1333 S. Prospect St., Nanticoke, PA 18634
• Beaver County State Health Center, 300 S. Walnut Lane, Beaver, PA 15009
• Columbia County State Health Center, 1123-C Old Berwick Rd., Bloomsburg, PA 17815
• Berks County State Health Center, Reading State Office Building, 625 Cherry St., Room 401, Reading, PA 19602
• Lancaster County State Health Center, 1661 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602
• Airville Fire Company, 3576 Delta Rd., Airville, PA 17302
• Londonderry Twp. Building, 783 S. Geyers Church Rd., Middletown, PA 17057
• Dauphin County State Health Center, 30 Kline Plaza, Harrisburg, PA 17104
• Fishing Creek Salem UMC, 402 Valley Rd., Etters, PA 17319
• York County State Health Center, 1750 N. George Street, York, PA 17404

KI Tablets will only be available between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the following location:

• Pottstown Public Health Center, 364 King St., Pottstown, PA 19464