Global politics has become quite alarmingly
like Game of Thrones, with Donald Trump
threatening ‘fury and fury like the world has
never seen.’
Things have ratcheted up, with North
Korea ‘capable of striking the US with a
nuclear bomb’ and threatening to destroy
its Pacific island territory of Guam.
Hopefully, this is all just rhetoric and the
world will not be plunged into nuclear
Armageddon before Christmas.
But if it actually did happen?
The American Department of Homeland
Security has published a set of guidelines
for how to react in a nuclear strike.
Perhaps this is not very reassuring, but
it might be worth familiarising yourself with it…
Here’s what to to do in an imminent nuclear
attack, other than hug your loved ones
and pray.
1. Take cover as quickly as you can,
below ground if possible
Unless you have been told to evacuate by
officials (there will be government broadcasts
on TV and radio), getting underground is your
best chance of survival, perhaps finding a
basement or going down to a tube station
platform.
If this isn’t possible, find the nearest brick
or concrete building and go inside immediately –
ideally the centre of a large building, where
there will be more walls between you and
the blast.
Radiation levels outside are extremely high
immediately after an explosion, obviously,
but they go down quickly (they reduce by
80% in one day).Stay where you are for at
least 24 hours. This could save your life.
If there is a large bomb, people may have to
shelter for up to a month.
2. If you can’t get inside in time
Do not look directly at the flash or the fireball – it can blind you.
Take cover behind anything that might offer protection, such as a wall.
Lie flat on the ground and cover your head. If the explosion is some distance away, it could take 30 seconds or more for the blast wave to hit.
Take shelter inside as soon as you can, even if you are miles away from ground zero . The wind can carry radioactive fallout for hundreds of miles.
3. Get clean as soon as possible
If you were outside during or after the blast, take off your outer clothing. This can remove up to 90% of radioactive material.
If practical, place your contaminated clothing in a plastic bag and seal or tie the bag. Place the bag as far away as possible from humans and animals so that the radiation it gives off does not affect others.
When possible, take a shower with lots of soap and water to help remove radioactive contamination. Do not scrub or scratch the skin.
Wash your hair with shampoo or soap and water. Do not use conditioner because it will bind radioactive material to your hair.
Gently blow your nose and wipe your eyelids, eyelashes and ears with a clean wet cloth.
If you cannot shower, use a wipe or clean wet cloth to wipe your skin that was not covered by clothing.
4. Returning to Your Home
If you had time to evacuate before the blast, keep listening to the TV and radio about what to do, where to go and places to avoid.
Stay away from areas marked ‘radiation hazard’ or ‘HAZMAT.’
Remember that radiation cannot be seen, smelled or otherwise detected by human senses.
If you have been sheltering, wait until there is word from the authorities that it is safe to leave.
5. Preparations before an attack
In preparation, you could put together an emergency supply kit including non-perishable goods and water, a battery powered or hand-crank radio, a torch and batteries.
The security department suggests keeping one in your car in case you need to evacuate.
You can also make a ‘family emergency plan’ to know how you will contact each other and how you will get back together, such as where you will meet in an emergency.
A nuclear strike
A deadly nuclear attack could be anything from a a small device carried by a single person, to a huge bomb carried across continents by a missile.
The blast causes intense light and heat, a damaging pressure wave, and widespread radioactive material that can contaminate the air, water, and ground surfaces for miles around, the US guide says.
In general, potential targets include
- Strategic missile sites and military bases.
- Centres of government and major cities such as London and Edinburgh
- Important transportation and communication centres.
- Manufacturing, industrial, technology, and financial centres.
- Petroleum refineries, electrical power plants, and chemical plants.
- Major ports and airfields.
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