Calif. Man Sets Off Nuclear Alert Detector

[Rose Siding]

ESCONDIDO, Calif. Mar 2, 2005 — A man who recently had received radiation treatment for a medical condition set off a nuclear alert detector on a fire engine, prompting police to close down a roadway in Escondido while authorities searched for a nuclear weapon.

The Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District engine crew's radiation monitor sounded Tuesday when the man and his friend walked past the crew on their way to fill a gas can.

The Nuke Alert monitor sounded again as the men walked back to their vehicle.

Firefighters notified the San Diego County Sheriff's Department after they drove by the men's vehicle and the monitor sounded a third time.

Sheriff's deputies pulled over the driver and detained him and his passenger for about one hour while they confirmed that the man was not carrying a nuclear weapon and that he had received radiation treatment, according to Sgt. Robert Healey.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/WaterCooler/wireStory?id=545809

[Trillo]

1. Isn't this a violation of medical privacy? nt

[GHOSTDANCER]

2. "Jeepers Paa......... Why's that man a glowin?".......Thats no man son."

<>

[Book Lover]

3. Once, while working for the Society of Nuclear Medicine

I had told to me a story about a household waste recycling plant having their radiation detectors going off for a toothbrush that a patient who had been treated for a thyroid condition used, the threshold was set so low. Anecdotal, I know, but maybe the same thing is going on here?

grammar on edit

[rkc3]

4. I have a relative who works for a company that supplies pumps for

nuclear reactors.

He tells a story of an alarm that went off as a new pump was brought into the plant - the alarm is used to catch people leaving the plant with irradiated materials.

Apparently, the steel used in the pump came from a Mexican electric furnace that uses recycled steel. They had been taking old x-ray machines and melting them down for new steel. This didn't go over too well.

[KansDem]

5. "...confirmed that the man was not carrying a nuclear weapon..."

"Whatta ya got in the gas can, Bub?"

"A gallon of gas..."

"Yeah? Sure it isn't a...THERMO-NUCLEAR DEVICE!!!" :nuke:

[mainer]

6. You mean those nuclear alert detectors WORK?

And here I thought they were bogus.

[TyObe]

7. I'm kind of surprised...

I'm kind of surprised that it was able to pick up internal radiation against the normal background radiation.

Ty