Do you know what to do in the event of a nuclear bomb? If you were in school anytime before 1989, you probably do. Preparing for nuclear bombs was a routine drill in schools and workplaces during the Cold War. However, most people born after the Cold War have never been taught what to do before, during, and immediately after a nuclear explosion.
As nuclear war feels more imminent now than at any other point since the Cold War, it is vital that we know what to do in the case of a nuclear event. As Glenn discussed last night on his Glenn TV special, here are 5 things you MUST know in case of a nuclear explosion. To get the full research that went into the Glenn TV special about nuclear preparation, click here.
1. Get inside as soon as possible, preferably underground.
As soon as you can, get inside your house or a building, preferably something brick or concrete. The main objective is to avoid "nuclear fallout," which are tiny radioactive particles and dust that result from the initial blast with the potential of causing lethal radiation poisoning.
Stay as far away as possible from windows, outer walls, and the roof. If you have access to a basement, that’s even better. Underground is always going to be better.
If you don't have a basement, get to the center of the building or house, like a stairwell.
2. Stay inside for at least 24 hours, preferably longer.
Nuclear fallout's radiation levels drops to 1 percent of its initial radiation levels after two weeks, so it would be ideal to remain inside for that duration.
3. If you CAN'T make it inside, here's what to do:
Take cover behind something, lay flat on the ground, and cover your head. It could take up to thirty seconds for the blast wave to reach you.
Cover your mouth with some kind of cloth material.
As soon as you can get indoors, remove your clothes and seal them off in a plastic bag. Put the bag as far away from people as possible.
Removing your clothes can reduce your fallout contamination by up to 90 percent. Blow your nose and wash out your ears, in case there is any contaminated dirt particles It’s best to take a shower with plenty of soap and shampoo—no conditioner as it can bind radioactive particles to your scalp.4. What you CAN and CANNOT eat and drink.
It’s okay to eat and drink anything that’s in a sealed container, package, bottle, or can. You can eat food from your pantry and refrigerator. However, any food left uncovered, even inside your house, and especially anything from an outdoor garden, is not safe.
You cannot boil water to get rid of radiation. But you CAN use tap water to wash dishes and take showers. Even if the public water supply is contaminated from fallout, the water dilutes the radiation enough to keep it from being harmful.
5. Do NOT scratch your skin.
Don't scratch your skin – if you do have scrapes, try to cover them. Scratches enable radioactive material to enter your bloodstream.
6. Battery-powered technology is essential.
Following the initial blast, there will be an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) explosion, which will render all electrically-powered essentially useless—goodbye smart phones! Battery or crank-powered radios will be essential to keep tabs on the "outside world."
To get the full research that went into the Glenn TV special about nuclear preparation, click here.
Morningstar via Investopedia