On Saturday, September 18, Health Departments in Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Catawba and Iredell counties will distribute potassium iodide (KI) at no cost to residents living within the 10 mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) of the McGuire and Catawba Nuclear Stations.

KI is an over-the-counter medication that can protect the thyroid gland if a person is exposed to radioactive iodine released during an emergency at a nuclear power plant. If taken within the appropriate time and at the proper dose, KI blocks the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine and reduces the risk of thyroid cancer.

Distribution times:  

September 18  - from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Locations:

Mecklenburg

North Mecklenburg High School, 11201 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville
Southwest Middle School, 13624 Steele Creek Road
http://meckhealth.org 

Gaston 

Forestview High School, 5545 Union Road, Gastonia
Pinewood Elementary School, 1925 North Main Street, Mt. Holly
http://gastonpublichealth.org

Lincoln 

East Lincoln Community Center,8160 Optimist Club Road, Denver
http://.lincolncounty.org/health

Catawba 

Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue, 4011 Slanting Bridge Road, Sherrills Ford
http://catawbacountync.gov/phealth/

Iredell 

Woodland Heights Elementary School, 288 Forest Lake Boulevard, Mooresville
Pine Lake Preparatory, 104 Yellow Wood Circle, Mooresville (off Hwy 115 south of the Mt.    Mourne VFD)
http://www.co.iredell.nc.us/Departments/Health/KIdistribution.asp

KI should be kept in a safe, accessible location and should only be taken in when instructed by emergency officials in the event of a nuclear power plant emergency. The protective effects of KI only last for several hours.

Residents are reminded that, following this special distribution event, all participating counties  provide KI free of charge, at any time through their local health department.