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Child Item

Mysterious government issued tablets

pekitivey

So, when i was about seven or eight I have a very vague memory of my mother receiving some sort of "special tablet" from the "government" in case of "war". I spoke about this to someone recently and they too had a memory of something similar. It was hardly cyanide that was being dolled out, so what were these "special tablets"?

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pekitivey

Must have cost a fortune to produce and issue all these cyanide tablets then?

Iodine*

Defiantly iodine

B0jangles

RaichuMGS wrote: »

Its like when you get a headache and suddenly all your paracetamol is gone. And the chemist is closed. Classic is that.

Ours has got a stash of old chargers for every model of phone made since about 1980, but never the one you need right now.

Aglomerado

Definitely post September 11th. I still have an unopened packet somewhere, kept it as an artefact!! I have a leaflet from the government somewhere describing what to do in a nuclear emergency. Not the UK one, this has a harp on it.

Having seen 'Threads' however I think cyanide pills would have been better!!!

NickD

They were issued in 2002, as a reaction to 9/11, just so we felt part of it all. Did no-one else take one for the craic?

pekitivey

I'd love to see a pack. If anyone has one and posted a picture it would be...... enjoyable.

FishOnABike

Sardonicat wrote: »

They're well gone off by now, so no you wouldn't be grand if you took one now.

Iodine apparently has some useful effect in preventing/ treating radiation sickness. Don't ask me what or how. I'm sure someone who does know will be along in a while to explain. But onions are high in Iodine, so if Sellafield blows I'm eating one.

I just keep a good stock of fresh dillisk and rotate the stock - well that's my excuse for regularly eating dilisk. Much tastier than raw onions and doesn't leave you with halitosis.

McDermotX

Definitely got a box in tthe 90s.........as usual with the shower that run this country, too late for something that happened and too early for something to come.

NickD

McDermotX wrote: »

Definitely got a box in tthe 90s.........as usual with the shower that run this country, too late for something that happened and too early for something to come.

Maybe they did two lots. I was living on my own in 2002 deff got a pack then

Simple_Simone

I can still remember the wretched Junior Minister for God Knows What, Joe Jacob TD being absolutely filleted by Marian Finnucane on RTE as he tried to reassure the country - and failed with nonchalant ineptness!

'twas vintage, head in hands radio - the nation's laughter as poor Joe kept digging could probably be heard in Wales! I don't think that he ever recovered from that epic performance!

Can't post weblinks here, but these two articles sum it up well!

h t t p s : // w w w . irishtimes.com/news/jacob-joins-the-comedy-greats-with-iodine-tablet-routine-1.329577

h t t p s

/ w w w . independent.ie /irish-news/jacobs-crisis-plan-took-the-biscuit-with-radio-listeners-26075392.html

Spook_ie

Sardonicat wrote: »

They're well gone off by now, so no you wouldn't be grand if you took one now.

Iodine apparently has some useful effect in preventing/ treating radiation sickness. Don't ask me what or how. I'm sure someone who does know will be along in a while to explain. But onions are high in Iodine, so if Sellafield blows I'm eating one.

Is it safe to take KI tablets with an expired shelf-life?

Yes, potassium iodide tablets are inherently stable and do not lose their effectiveness over time. Manufacturers must label their products with a shelf-life to ensure that consumers purchase safe and useful products.

According to FDA guidance on Shelf-life Extension, studies over many years have confirmed that none of the components of KI tablets, including the active ingredient, has any significant potential for chemical degradation or interaction with other components or with components of the container closure system when stored according to labeled directions. To date, the only observed changes during stability (shelf-life) testing have been the failure of some batches of KI tablets to meet dissolution specifications. Some tablets tested required slightly longer than the specified time to achieve dissolution. Even in the case of a failure of this sort, the product remains usable. In such cases, instructions can be provided to crush the tablets and mix them with a juice or other liquid prior to administration as suggested for emergency pediatric dosing.

https://www.nrc.gov/ reckon you'd be safe to take them.

topper75

Anybody know where I can listen to the Joe Jacob interview today?
I only heard it once when it was originally broadcast and it was radio gold.

There are some excerpts here for our younger listeners:
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/jacobs-crisis-plan-took-the-biscuit-with-radio-listeners-26075392.html

Edit: sorry to cross over you there Simple Simone. Great minds thinking alike? :-) Would really love the audio

fixXxer

Reminds me of this program on RTE

Came home blind drunk to see he news on the TV that Sellafield had gone up and we were all doomed. Took me a while to figure out it was just a tv show!

Melodeon

pekitivey wrote: »

I'd love to see a pack. If anyone has one and posted a picture it would be...... enjoyable.

Here you go:

Simple_Simone

Just found this on the Irish Medical Times website, dated 09 April 2008.:-

"Joe Jacob’s iodine tablets withdrawn

The Minister for Health Mary Harney has decided, ‘on the basis of expert risk management advice’, not to re-issue iodine tablets. During 2002, iodine tablets, intended to be taken in the event of a major nuclear accident that might result in the release of radio-active iodine, were issued to each household — amid claims that many households had in fact not received them.

In 2002, Ireland was the only country to issue iodine tablets. The nation was entertained by Minister Joe Jacob’s appearance on Liveline which many believed to be an impersonator, rather than the actual Minister."

pekitivey

Melodeon wrote: »

Here you go:

Ask and you shall receive! I LOVE BOARDS!

Thanks btw

Sardonicat

Zaid Zealous Schoolmaster wrote: »

DM-BM wrote: »

iodine in 2001 after 9/11

It was as a result of Chernobyl not 9/11.

It took them 15 years to send out the iodine tablets?

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

Issued after Chernobyl in the 80's. Idea is iodine protects the thyroid gland from the effects of radiation. The government of the day had to be seen to be doing something in response to the crisis at the time.

They were issued in 2001/02. If they were an attempt "to be seen to be doing something in response to the crisis at the time" of Chernobyl a 15 year reaction time doesn't bode well.

Sardonicat

Spook_ie wrote: »

Sardonicat wrote: »

They're well gone off by now, so no you wouldn't be grand if you took one now.

Iodine apparently has some useful effect in preventing/ treating radiation sickness. Don't ask me what or how. I'm sure someone who does know will be along in a while to explain. But onions are high in Iodine, so if Sellafield blows I'm eating one.

Is it safe to take KI tablets with an expired shelf-life?

Yes, potassium iodide tablets are inherently stable and do not lose their effectiveness over time. Manufacturers must label their products with a shelf-life to ensure that consumers purchase safe and useful products.

According to FDA guidance on Shelf-life Extension, studies over many years have confirmed that none of the components of KI tablets, including the active ingredient, has any significant potential for chemical degradation or interaction with other components or with components of the container closure system when stored according to labeled directions. To date, the only observed changes during stability (shelf-life) testing have been the failure of some batches of KI tablets to meet dissolution specifications. Some tablets tested required slightly longer than the specified time to achieve dissolution. Even in the case of a failure of this sort, the product remains usable. In such cases, instructions can be provided to crush the tablets and mix them with a juice or other liquid prior to administration as suggested for emergency pediatric dosing.

https://www.nrc.gov/ reckon you'd be safe to take them.

Mine started leaking through the package so had to dump them.

ednwireland

You're going to tell me you don't remember millennium candles or trees next.

Sardonicat

FishOnABike wrote: »

Sardonicat wrote: »

They're well gone off by now, so no you wouldn't be grand if you took one now.

Iodine apparently has some useful effect in preventing/ treating radiation sickness. Don't ask me what or how. I'm sure someone who does know will be along in a while to explain. But onions are high in Iodine, so if Sellafield blows I'm eating one.

I just keep a good stock of fresh dillisk and rotate the stock - well that's my excuse for regularly eating dilisk. Much tastier than raw onions and doesn't leave you with halitosis.

Ah, but the halitosis is to ward off those who would raid my under the stairs stash of bottled water and baked beans. And onions.

theguzman

I know people that took the tablets when the received them and were proudly proclaiming they were now immune to radiation.

Uncharted

pekitivey wrote: »

AHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Most people here wont get that I bet.

Far superior to the speckled dove

Wheeliebin30

Anyone ever get their free slice of cheese from the government?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/government-to-let-them-eat-cheese-1.866851%3fmode=amp

Edgware

ednwireland wrote: »

You're going to tell me you don't remember millennium candles or trees next.

While every family had a millenium tree planted in their name 2 out of every 3 were subsequently removed as part of the forestry thinning process

[Deleted User]

Fine Gael’s agriculture spokesman Andrew Doyle reacted with scepticism to the plan.

“Fianna Fáil and the Greens gouda be kidding,” he said. “People on the breadline would rather the Government’s unfeta’d attention was on solving the economic crisis they caused and providing jobs rather than on this ridiculous announcement."

You know he thought he was the right one with puns like that.

Guy:Incognito

pekitivey wrote: »

How was it meant to be used?

As a suppository. Its the only way they still work. Best to use them now before they go off.

Edit. Dammit. Too late

fixXxer

ednwireland wrote: »

You're going to tell me you don't remember millennium candles or trees next.

I have a Millennium Milk bottle.

No no not the 2000 mellennium.

The much more hipster Dublin 1988 Millennium.

Simple_Simone

ednwireland wrote: »

You're going to tell me you don't remember millennium candles or trees next.

Whatever about Millennium Candles - I well remember the asinine Ray Bates'/National Lottery's Millennium Clock that was placed in the River Liffey back in March 1996.

It lasted for about 8 months in all, (including a number of removals for repairs) before they finally gave up in December 1996!

On a cold Friday night in March the formal switching on of the clock was performed by the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn. The event, which was accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display, was relayed live on the Late Late Show.

But the clock which took 2 years to make and cost the Lottery about €315,000, was a disaster! It rarely worked, often displayed the wrong time and was frequently obscured by algae growth. Ultimately the ‘Chime in the Slime’ was taken out of the Liffey for good in December 1996. The Millennium clock countdown was over, almost before it began. It was, to put it mildly, a PR fiasco for the National Lottery!

Edgware

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

As a suppository. Its the only way they still work. Best to use them now before they go off.

Edit. Dammit. Too late

Suppositories are useless. For all the good they do you might as well be shoving them up your hole

4068ac1elhodqr

Think I read somewhere Iodine tablets on their own were only somewhat useful, ideally also need plenty of selenium (brazil nuts, garlic etc) and sea salts to increase good takeup in the thyroid.

Not to mention about 3-6mths of food storage, air-filtered shelter, very substantial water reserves, dynamo powered products etc etc in case of a major hot event.

Then there's things 'not to do' such as the use of any hair conditioners, eating any type of large leaf vegtables or mushrooms for a very good while afterwards, as they absorb the most rad.

Sardonicat

Kyler Wide Panel wrote: »

Then there's things 'not to do' such as the use of any hair conditioners, eating any type of large leaf vegtables or mushrooms for a very good while afterwards, as they absorb the most rad.

You mean I'm gonna have halitosis AND frizzy hair? Feck that, I'll take the cyanide.