Since, World War 2 whole world is feared of nuclear
explosion effects. Those closest to the bomb would face death, while anyone up
to 5 miles away could endure third-degree burns. People less than 55 miles away
could experience temporary or total blindness.
But a longer-term threat would come in the minutes and hours
after that explosion. Nuclear explosions can produce clouds of dust and
sand-like radioactive particles that disperse into the atmosphere - what's
referred to as nuclear fallout. Exposure to this fallout can result in
radiation poisoning, which can damage the body's cells.
The debris takes about 15 minutes to reach ground level
after an explosion, so a person's response during that period could be a matter
of life and death.
Courtesy: Brookings
Here are the dos to remember in the event of a nuclear attack to stay alive!!!
If a nuclear bomb is
dropped on your city, here's where you should run and hide
DO; Lay down to the ground with your face down and your
hands tucked under your body.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends
this position because it will keep your hands, arms, and face away from any
flying debris or sweltering heat that could burn your skin. Once shockwaves
have subsided, you can get up and look for shelter.
DO; Cover your face with a towel or helmet will do better.
If you have a scarf or handkerchief nearby at the time of a
nuclear explosion, it's wise to cover your nose and mouth. Even before fallout
reaches the ground, an explosion stirs up other debris that might be dangerous
to breathe in.
DO; Find a brick or concrete building, such as a school or
office.
FEMA identifies brick or concrete buildings as the safest
forms of shelter after a nuclear attack. Ideally, the best shelter would have
few to no windows and a basement for camping out.
Schools or offices usually meet these criteria. Mobile
homes, however, are considered too fragile to offer enough protection.
If there aren't any sturdy buildings within 15 minutes of
where you're standing, it's better to find some form of shelter than stay
outside. If you discover that there's a safer building close by, wait at least
an hour before attempting to move. By that time, the potential radiation
exposure would likely have decreased by around 55%.
DO; Shut off heaters and air conditioners.
Heat or air conditioning units pull in air from the outside,
so they could spread contaminated particles throughout your home or shelter.
DO; Take a shower as soon as possible.
People who were outside during an explosion should shower as
soon as possible, making sure the water is warm and soap is applied gently.
Scrubbing too hard could break your skin, which acts as a natural protective
barrier.
You should also cover any cuts or abrasions while you're
rinsing off. For those without access to a shower, FEMA recommends using a sink
or faucet. The next-best option is to clean your body with a wipe or wet cloth.
Blowing your nose and wiping your ears and eyelids is important.
DO; Seal away contaminated clothes.
Because outer layers of clothing would likely be
contaminated by fallout, the CDC recommends sealing them in a plastic bag
that's out of the reach of children and pets. You should also seal off any
tissues or cloths used to wipe your body or face.
DO; Listen to the radio for instructions.
Nuclear explosions produce a powerful phenomenon called a
nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP), an invisible burst of energy that can
slash power, phone, and internet lines. A nuclear EMP could also disrupt radio
waves, but that's less likely, since radios have a simpler circuitry.
So in the wake of an explosion, emergency-response officials
will likely broadcast safety instructions over the radio. Unless these
officials tell you it's safe to go outside, it's best to stay put until the
risk of contamination has gone down.
Here are don'ts to remember in the event of a nuclear attack to stay alive!!!
DON'T; Stare directly at the blast.
Depending upon your distance from a nuclear explosion area,
it might be impossible to avoid the initial burst of light if closer, which can
blind you for about a minute or more depends upon your distance. But for those
located farther away, it's best to turn away and cover your eyes.
A 1-megaton bomb (that's about 80 times larger than the
"Little Boy" atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima), could temporarily
blind people up to 15 miles away on a clear day, and up to 55 miles away on a
clear night.
DON'T; Seek shelter in your car.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) advises
people not to shelter in their vehicles. Cars' glass windows and metal frames
make them too flimsy to protect you from nuclear fallout. Driving away is also
futile, since it's difficult to anticipate where radiation will travel.
The one exception to this rule is ducking inside your car in
an underground parking garage, which could provide an added layer of
protection.
DON'T; Stand near glass windows once you're indoor.
If you take cover in multi-story building, choose a central
location and steer clear of the top and bottom floors.
If your structure has windows, FEMA advises standing far
away from them, in the center of a room. That's because shockwaves can shatter
windows up to 10 miles from an explosion, resulting in flying glass that could
injure people who are too close.
DON'T; Search for your family members right away.
The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends
staying indoors for at least 24 hours in the event of a nuclear explosion.
After 48 hours, the exposure rate from a 10-kiloton explosion (the type that
might damage but not destroy a city) goes down to just 1%.
"While sheltering is a priority for protecting public
health, it goes against natural instincts," a collection of government
agencies wrote in a 2010 report. "After a nuclear detonation, people will
need to understand why they and their families are safest staying
sheltered."
DON'T; Use conditioner after you shampoo.
Rinsing your hair with shampoo is critical after being
exposed to radiation, but conditioner is a major no-no, according to the CDC.
That's because conditioners carry compounds called cationic
surfactants, which bind to radioactive particles and can trap them in your
hair. They'd essentially act like glue between your hair and radioactive
material.
As a general rule, it's best to only use products on your
body that are designed to get rinsed off in the aftermath of a nuclear
disaster. Items like body lotion and face cream should wait until a second or
third wish.
DON'T; Eat unpackaged food or food that was left outside.
Following any kind of nuclear explosion, the CDC says it's
alright to consume food from sealed containers such packages, bottles, or cans.
You can also eat things from your pantry or refrigerator, as long as you wipe
off food containers, cookware, counters, and utensils.
But anything that was left uncovered, especially if it was
outdoors, such as fruits or veggies from a garden would be unsafe to eat.
Key take away points:
• In the
event of a nuclear explosion, survivors would have up to 15 minutes before
radioactive particles known as nuclear fallout reach the ground.
• People
should look for shelter immediately, but not all shelters are equally
effective: The best kinds are usually schools or offices made of brick or
concrete.
• Once
inside, a few life-saving measures could reduce your risk of contamination.
• There are
also things you should never do, like wash your hair with conditioner.
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