Every citizen in Switzerland has just received iodine pills from the government in case of a nuclear disaster.
The Swizz government is making preparations for a disaster at one of its nuclear power plants.
The move comes amid escalating global tensions and mounting fears of a looming nuclear disaster.
According to SwissInfo, the government sent 4.6 million potassium iodide tablets to residents in 2014.
And while no disasters have occurred in that time, the pills have a 10-year life span and are now expiring.
According to the Swiss outlet Jodtabletten, every household in Switzerland received their pills through the mail last week.
The pills include a note that states the pills are “to be taken at the request of the authorities in the event of radioactive fallout.”
The pill box seen in the image below arrived in the Postal Mail to every home in Switzerland today. The accompanying letter tells citizens "Iodine tablets, to be taken at the request of the authorities in the event of radioactive fallout." pic.twitter.com/nxyPj7Fl00
— Truthwins (@ultrafreedom777) October 20, 2023
Under the Swiss plan to protect its people, everyone within 50 kilometers of a nuclear power plant receives surplus pills in case there is someone with them who needs some.
The Swiss government has purchased enough tablets to cover the entire population of the country.
Local governments are in charge of keeping tablets in areas outside the 50-kilometer limit.
Businesses and schools will be supplied with tablets in 2024.
People in 779 Swiss municipalities will receive the tablets, according to SwissInfo.
Iodine tablets are designed to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer due to radiation.
Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health said the tablets are particularly effective for anyone less than 45 years old and can help protect children as young as two months old.
The Swiss have thought of everything “In case of an accident in a nuclear power plant with radiation leakage” https://t.co/IqW9GC5A07
— Anna Magnisali (@annamagni) October 23, 2023
Swiss officials have cautioned residents not to take the tablets until they are informed by government officials from the National Emergency Operations in the event of an emergency.
Switzerland plans to recycle the old pills and recover the iodine within them.
Potassium iodide pills are given in case of radiation exposure to protect the thyroid gland. Radioactive iodine is released during nuclear accidents or events, and if inhaled or ingested, it can accumulate in the thyroid, increasing the risk of thyroid cancer.
— Dr Khan (@kimiyadan) October 27, 2023
The government has purchased 12 million packs of iodine tablets, according to SwissInfo.
The prevention effort costs about 34 million Swiss francs ($26.6M).
The nuclear power plant operators pay a third of the bill, according to Bloomberg.
Switzerland’s existing policy is to keep its nuclear plants as long as they continue to function.
In a survey of 9,000 people, 56 percent supported new nuclear power plants.
Only 37 percent supported the Green Party’s call to end the use of nuclear power by 2037.
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