The cancers caused by radioactive atoms can take decades to develop. The result of Chernobyl on the children has been disastrous. Health officials expect the cancer rate to continue rising since pre-cancerous thyroid conditions are more common than carcinomas. The thyroid problem could have been prevented with proper nuclear first aid. In Chernobyl, the children who were given pure potassium iodide could not swallow it because it is extremely bitter, or they could not keep it down.
Children can take it more easily and protect their thyroid glands.
This knowledge is not widely known. In my own town, no source of potassium iodide was available in 1998. There was none in the county's emergency medical supplies. My own physician did not know anything about it. Therefore, it is going to be the responsibility of every parent to protect their own children during a nuclear fallout event.