ORGANIZATIONAL AND PRACTICAL FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC PROTECTION DURING RADIOLOGICAL ACCIDENTS

Radiological accidents require coordinated decisions under uncertainty, including rapid characterization of hazards, public communication, protective actions, medical triage and sustained recovery. This narrative and comparative policy analysis examines the organization of public protection with particular attention to the legal and institutional context of Uzbekistan. International recommendations are synthesized alongside Uzbek regulatory instruments and emergency-management scholarship. The findings propose a phase-based coordination framework connecting preparedness, early protective decisions, exposure assessment, healthcare response and long-term rehabilitation. The proposed indicators are operational recommendations, not outcomes of an implemented intervention. The study concludes that interoperable command arrangements, predefined triggers, inclusive risk communication and regular exercises are central to improving readiness.