WEBVTT

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SILENCE

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VOICE-OVER: Mustard gas is discovered
in a storage room in Ede.

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Panic in the neighbourhood.
The emergency services rush to the scene.

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Local residents
are evacuated.

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An investigation reveals
that there is no danger.

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PEACEFUL MUSIC

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VOICE-OVER:
From major fires to suspicious packages

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RIVM has the expertise required
for an effective response.

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To mobilise that expertise demands
good organisation behind the scenes.

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RIVM never takes action
on its own initiative

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but works on the instructions
of a government authority.

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An outbreak of
an infectious disease

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or widespread food poisoning
due to salmonella contamination

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are examples of crisis situations
that call for RIVM's expert input.

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AURA TIMEN: During an outbreak
of a communicable disease

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the RIVM has basically
two major roles.

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The first role would be to provide
the best scientific advice possible

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on the control measures
to be taken

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and the second role would be to co-ordinate
control of the outbreak

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by helping the professionals in the field
to carry out the measures.

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VOICE-OVER: The 2013 outbreak
of measles is a good example.

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In general people in the Netherlands
are well protected.

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In some communities with strong
conservative Protestant convictions however,

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immunisation rates
are lower.

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During a crisis
decisions have to be taken

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under very high time pressure,
in uncertainty.

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So the first thing we do
is, actually,

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we convene
an outbreak management team,

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working closely
with the Department of Health

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by providing them
with the best advice on measures,

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but also with the field

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in which professionals
have to carry out the advice given.

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VOICE-OVER:
In a crisis situation

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RIVM's Centre for
Infectious Disease Control

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is the nerve centre
of the co-ordinated action.

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The RIVM works closely together
with all the countries in Europe

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within the Early Warning
and Response System

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and with the European Centre
for Disease Prevention and Control,

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the ECDC,
in Stockholm.

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And of course we work closely together
with the WHO.

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TRANQUIL MUSIC

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VOICE-OVER: In other types of crisis
RIVM has a different role.

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The institute advises and assists
national and local governments,

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but also the fire services
and municipal health authorities.

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An example
is the Moerdijk factory fire,

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where toxic chemicals
were released into the atmosphere

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with potential
health effects.

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Following the Enschede fireworks disaster
in May 2000

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RIVM was quickly on the scene
with an investigation team

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from the Environmental
Incident Service.

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Other types
of support

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include the counselling provided
after the shooting incident

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at a shopping centre
in Alphen aan den Rijn.

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During any crisis it's essential
that the people on the scene

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receive support from
the emergency services' incident room.

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Is the cloud of smoke wafting over
an agricultural area actually dangerous?

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What is
the wind direction?

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RIVM's Environmental Incident Service
has a fully equipped mobile laboratory,

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which can perform chemical
and biological analyses on site.

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There is also a fleet
of smaller lab vehicles.

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Staff take air, soil
and water samples,

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which are analysed on the spot
to reveal what impact, if any,

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the release of hazardous substances has
had on public health and the environment.

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RIVM can also monitor radiation
and assess its potential effects on health.

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The Radiation Incident Service
measures radiation

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from nuclear accidents,
for example.

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It also knows what to do in the event
of actual radiation poisoning.

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RONALD SMETSERS:
In the event of a nuclear accident

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RIVM has several roles. It starts already
at the beginning, in the early phase

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when there is
no accident at all.

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We have several
early warning systems,

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for example a radiation
and monitoring network

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that looks at the background
radiation levels 24 hours a day.

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VOICE-OVER: The most recent example,
and one that shocked the world,

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was the explosion at a nuclear power plant
in Fukushima, Japan.

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Well, suppose an accident occurs, we can
go to the site and perform measurements.

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We have, for example, two radiological vans
with very sophisticated equipment on board.

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And we can use that information
to advise the governments

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on taking proper
protective action.

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But we don't
do this alone,

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there are many more institutes involved
in nuclear emergency response.

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They are all combined in the so-called
Back Office for Radiological Information,

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and RIVM
co-ordinates that group.

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VOICE-OVER:
RIVM provides an effective response

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to all types of emergency
by working closely alongside its clients,

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the professional field
and the general public.

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It brings together existing strengths
and helps to develop new knowledge.

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THE TRANQUIL MUSIC CONTINUES
FOR A WHILE AND THEN STOPS