PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- Imagine you live near a nuclear power plant and there's an accident: What do you do?

It's a question that thousands of Lake County residents have probably asked themselves before, and this week, there's an answer.

NewsChannel5's Debora Lee reported that there's a pill that could help save residents' lives.

The Lake County Health Department said that potassium iodide pills can protect your thyroid from radiation exposure. Starting Friday, the two tablets -- which are smaller than a kernel of corn -- will be distributed to anyone living within 10 miles of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant.

"This is just for people to have in their homes in the event there's an emergency," nurse Kay Duffy said.

According to the Health Department's director of community and public health services, if the thyroid absorbs radioactive material, it can lead to thyroid cancer. The pill provides 24 hours of protection.

At Dean's Family Restaurant in Madison, which is located near the plant, many people weren't convinced.

"I can't see they'll be any real help," one diner said.

"By the time I even found the pill and took it, I don't think it would do any good," said another.

A Perry spokesman said he hopes the pills don't give residents a false sense of security. He said the pills are supplements -- not substitutes for the emergency plan.

"The very first thing somebody should do is, if told to evacuate the area, get out," the spokesman said.

If the pills become necessary, children should take only half the dose. People allergic to iodine or seafood shouldn't take them at all. When in doubt, consult your doctor, NewsChannel5 reported.

Below are the scheduled KI distribution locations:

Lake County General Health District
LOCATION	DATE	TIME	ADDRESS	CITY
Lake County Fairgrounds	Jan. 17	10 a.m. to 2 p.m.	1301 Mentor Ave.	Painesville
Manchester West Training Center	Jan. 21	4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.	4261 Manchester St.	Perry
Lake County General Health District	Jan. 23	9 a.m. to 3 p.m.	33 Mill St.	Painesville
Ashtabula County Health District
Geneva High School	Jan. 23	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.	839 Sherman St.	Geneva
Geauga County General Health District
Ledgemont High School	Jan. 17	9 a.m. to 3 p.m.	16700 Thompson Road	Thompson

You may pick up your KI (with your coupon) from Jan. 25 through Feb. 20 at the following pharmacies:

CITY	PHARMACY	STREET	PHONE
Ashtabula	Wal-Mart Pharmacy	3551 North Ridge Road	(440) 998-4004
Concord	Medic Drug Pharmacy	9853 Johnnycake Ridge Road	(440) 357-1148
Geneva	Giant Eagle	755 S. Broadway	(440) 466-3005
Geneva	Rite Aid Pharmacy	633 S. Broadway	(440) 466-3323
Madison	Giant Eagle #4004	6556 North Ridge Road	(440) 428-6111
Madison	Kmart Pharmacy	6600 North Ridge Road	(440) 417-1784
Madison	Rite Aid Pharmacy #4847	6655 North Ridge Road	(440) 428-2150
Mentor	CVS Pharmacy #3326	9040 Mentor Ave.	(440) 255-9159
Mentor	Giant Eagle #0196	7960 Plaza Blvd.	(440) 602-4013
Mentor	Hytree Omnicare Pharmacy	9500 Mentor Ave. Suite 110	(440) 354-2363
Mentor	Kmart Pharmacy #4910	9200 Mentor Ave.	(440) 974-7314
Mentor	Rite Aid Pharmacy #3174	7796 Munson Road	(440) 257-6258
Mentor	Tops Pharmacy	8555 Market St.	(440) 255-0417
Mentor	Wal-Mart Pharmacy	9303 Mentor Ave.	(440) 974-3301
Mentor	Medic Drug Pharmacy	7320 Lakeshore Blvd.	(440) 946-7978
Mentor	CVS Pharmacy #7686	7301 Lakeshore Blvd.	(440) 602-6071
Painesville	CVS Pharmacy #3356	152 E. Washington St.	(440) 354-4432
Painesville	CVS Pharmacy #4327	1506 Mentor Ave.	(440) 354-5609
Painesville	CVS Pharmacy #5941	1890 North Ridge Road	(440) 352-7051
Painesville	Giant Eagle Pharmacy	1201 Mentor Ave.	(440) 358-7769
Painesville	Rite Aid Pharmacy #3195	54 S. State St.	(440) 352-0627

For more information on potassium iodide, call the Lake County General Health District at (440) 250-2543 or visit its Web site at www.lcghd.org.