Lake County Health Commissioner Ron Graham announces plans for the distribution of potassium iodide (KI) to residents living or working within the 10 mile emergency planning zone (EPZ) of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. Beginning October 22, 2021, Lake County businesses and residents living or working in the EPZ may stop in at the Lake County General Health District (LCGHD), located at 5966 Heisley Road in Mentor from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to pick up KI.
LCGHD will be holding a KI distribution event for Lake County businesses located within 10 miles of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant on October 22, 2021 at the LCGHD Mosquito Building, located at 550 Blackbrook Road in Painesville from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Lake County businesses are requested to pre-register for this event by completing the Business KI Request Form at https://www.lcghd.org/potassium-iodide-ki/.
“KI is not a substitute for emergency procedures, such as evacuation and in-place sheltering during a nuclear emergency,” Mr. Graham said. “It is, however, one more protective measure we can provide to help safeguard Lake County residents.” Although KI will be available at care centers that would open as a result of a release from the power plant, in order to be effective, it must be taken within three to four hours of the start of exposure.
Potassium iodide is a non-prescription medication that if taken within a specific time frame, can protect the thyroid from radioactive iodine, one of the contaminants that could be released in a nuclear accident or similar event. Exposure to radioactive iodine can increase the risk of thyroid cancer. KI that was last issued by LCGHD is set to expire at the end of December, 2021.
In addition to the LCGHD location, Lake County residents living or working in the EPZ may pick up KI at the following pharmacies starting October 25, 2021 during the pharmacy hours of operation:
Scheduled KI distribution locations:
| Pharmacy | Address | Telephone Number |
| CVS Pharmacy | 1506 Mentor Ave Painesville, Ohio 44077 | 440-354-5609 |
| CVS Pharmacy | 1890 North Ridge Painesville, Ohio 44077 |
440-352-7051 |
| CVS Pharmacy | 9040 Mentor Ave. Mentor, Ohio 44060 |
440-255-9159 |
| Discount Drug Mart | 8023 Crile Road Concord, Ohio 44077 |
440-853-2542 |
| Discount Drug Mart | 8500 Mentor Avenue Mentor, Ohio 44060 |
440-255-0040 |
| Giant Eagle Pharmacy | 6556 North Ridge Road Madison, Ohio 44057 |
440-428-6111 |
| Giant Eagle Pharmacy | 1201 Mentor Avenue Painesville, Ohio 44077 |
440-358-7769 |
| Marc’s Pharmacy | 7353Mentor Avenue Mentor, Ohio 44060 |
440-951-1721 |
| Rite Aid Pharmacy | 180 N. State Street Painesville, Ohio 44077 |
440-352-0627 |
| Rite Aid Pharmacy | 6655 North Ridge Road Madison, Ohio 44057 |
440-428-1128 |
Once residents have picked up their new KI, their expired KI may be thrown away in the trash. For more information on KI, call the Lake County General Health District at 440-350-2543 or visit the Lake County General Health District web site at www.lcghd.org; or the Ohio Department of Health web site at https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/radiological-health-and-safety/resources/KI.
