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- Herausgeber: Planet editions
- Kategorie: Ratgeber
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022
- This edition is unique;
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INDEX
WHAT IS A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION?
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION?
WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION?
If you are in the vicinity of the explosion
If you are outdoors
Once indoors
HEALTH EFFECTS
POTASSIUM IODIDE
KEY POINTS
Part 1 - Preparing in advance
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Part 2 - Surviving an Imminent Attack
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Advice
How to Survive a Nuclear Attack
Various authors
WHAT IS A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION?
A nuclear explosion, produced for example by a nuclear bomb, basically consists of the release of an enormous amount of energy as a result of a chain reaction involving the splitting and joining of atoms: the result is a dramatic wave of heat, light, air pressure and radiation.
The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, at the end of World War II produced nuclear explosions.
When a nuclear device is detonated, and we all have the horrific cinematic reconstructions of this type of attack in our eyes, what is created is a great ball of fire. Everything inside this immense fireball vaporises, turns instantly into steam and is carried upwards, including soil and of course water. This movement creates the so-called mushroom cloud that we associate with a nuclear explosion.
The radioactive elements that make up the device mix with the material vaporised in the mushroom cloud and are hurled to incredible heights of up to 10 km, whereupon they cool, condense, i.e. become solid again, and form small particles that, like a deadly dust, fall like a rain of death on the earth.
This is called fallout and, because the material is fine and light, it is easily carried over long distances by wind currents and watercourses, causing contamination of anything it comes into contact with, including of course plantations, domestic and farm animals and water supplies.
The fallout of material in the blast zone (primary fallout) begins within minutes with the heaviest debris and dust, while the finer material, which is blown into the air and carried by the wind, begins to fall no earlier than 1-2 hours later (secondary fallout). The tail of the secondary fallout can stretch for tens of kilometres for the most powerful explosions and this poisonous rain can continue to fall for two days or more.
Would an explosion in Ukraine directly affect Italy? I don't want to go into matters in which I have no competence, partly because even today there is a lively debate on the effects of the Chernobyl disaster, which is in what is now Ukraine: the radioactive clouds actually reached Eastern Europe, including Italy, in a few days, but bear in mind that the first materials to fall are also the most radioactive, the most dangerous. After about a couple of days, the level of radioactivity in the materials reaches a stable value and stops decreasing, so after a nuclear explosion the first 48 hours are the most delicate ones for those who live near the event. As we shall see in more detail in a moment, the advice is to leave the area downwind of the explosion as quickly as possible, perhaps seeking shelter, ideally in an underground bunker, where one can spend at least the next two days.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION?
A nuclear weapon causes destruction and death over a potentially wide area. Those who find themselves unwillingly in the vicinity may risk physical injury, trauma and even immediate death from the overwhelming shockwave, burns from the heat released and the fires ignited, temporary or permanent blindness from the light released by the explosion, radiation poisoning, which in medical terms is called acute radiation sickness.
The latter can have effects that are as blatant and immediate as they are subtle because they are silent and long-term: immediate degeneration of the tissues, visible within a few minutes, like a sort of sunburn, an increase in the likelihood of developing tumours over time, even years later, and genetic damage that could make a dramatic appearance in subsequent generations, i.e. in unborn and even unconceived children.
Equally dangerous is internal exposure to radioactive sources, for example by consuming contaminated water or food, or breathing air containing radioactive dust. While very high doses of radiation directly experienced can cause death within days or months, external exposure to lower doses of radiation, as well as internal exposure, can increase the risk of developing cancers and other health problems over time.
WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION?
The following are some of the behaviours recommended by the World Health Organisation in the event of a nuclear explosion:
If you are in the vicinity of the explosion
Turn around, close and cover your eyes to prevent damage to the retina and thus to your eyesight. Lie face down on the floor with your hands underneath your body so that they are not exposed. Hold this position until the heat and the two shock waves have passed.
At this point the indications are slightly different depending on whether one is outdoors or indoors.
If you are outdoors
Find something to cover your mouth and nose, e.g. a mask, but failing that a scarf, handkerchief or any kind of cloth will do. Remove dust from clothes by brushing, shaking and wiping them in a ventilated area; it is very, very important to protect your nose and mouth during this operation.
Find a shelter, possibly a basement or other underground area, preferably away from the direction in which the wind blows. Radioactive material is deposited on the outside of buildings, and underground areas are furthest from exposed walls.
If possible get rid of clothing as it may be contaminated, ideally by taking a shower before closing up, to wash the radioactive dust off your skin and hair. Even if contaminated, the water used for the shower is still useful to dilute the radioactive concentration. Use plenty of soap, without rubbing excessively to avoid irritation to the skin, shampoo your hair, but avoid conditioner, which may retain the particles that we want to wash away. Afterwards wear clean clothes.
Once indoors
If you find yourself in a car, bus or other vehicle during a radiological emergency, immediately try to get inside a house, as vehicles do not provide sufficient protection. Ideally a basement, but in any case any building is safer than being outside.
If you have pets, the same precautions apply to them, including the shower, which is as important for you as it is for them.
HEALTH EFFECTS
The health effects of radiation depend on:
Dose and time, i.e. the amount of radiation absorbed by the body.
Type of radioactive material to which you are exposed.
Mode of exposure, e.g. external contact or breathing in particles.
Exposure to large amounts of radiation over a short period of time can cause acute radiation sickness, which initially manifests as NAUSEA AND VOMITING, HEADACHES AND DIARRHEA.
These symptoms start from a few minutes to several days after exposure, depending on the dose to which one is exposed; similarly, the duration varies from minutes to days, with the complaints showing an intermittent pattern in the meantime.
After an initial phase, it is possible to observe a certain improvement, a recovery that apparently seems substantial or even surprising, but which in reality unfortunately often conceals a new worsening with symptoms of varying severity depending on the dose of radiation suffered. These symptoms may be accompanied by loss of appetite, fatigue, fever and, in serious cases, neurological symptoms such as convulsions and coma.
This phase can last from a few hours to several months.
Treatment focuses on containing and treating infections, keeping the body hydrated and managing injuries and burns.
The bone marrow, a spongy tissue found in most of the body's bones, is the seat of production of the cellular elements of the blood: red and white blood cells and platelets. A great deal of attention is paid to therapies capable of supporting the function of the bone marrow, the destruction of which is typically the real cause of the death of the person concerned, I would remind you that we are talking about short-term consequences, due to complications that manifest themselves in the form of infections, caused by the reduction of circulating white blood cells, internal haemorrhages, due to the reduction of platelets.
The lower the radiation dose, the more likely the person is to recover from acute radiation sickness, which can, however, take years.
Other lesions that are immediately visible after exposure to radiation include burns, again characterised by a spectrum of manifestations that varies depending on the dose exposed, ranging from simple swelling, itching and redness, like sunburn, to blistering and open ulcers. Complete healing of the skin can take from a few weeks to a few years. The same applies to hair, which may fall out.
Long-term damage has emotional and psychological repercussions, but unfortunately also an increased risk of developing cancer. In this respect, children and adolescents are more sensitive to the carcinogenic effects of radiation than adults, for at least two reasons:
Their organism is still growing, still developing, and therefore cell proliferation is much more intense; every cell reproduction is an occasion when genetic damage can manifest itself in the form of a cancer cell.
Children and adolescents also have, on average, a longer lifespan ahead of them, and therefore a longer period of time in which cancer can occur, as a result of exposure to radiation.
The same applies to pregnant women; in this case the greatest risk to the foetus is in the first trimester.
POTASSIUM IODIDE
Potassium iodide drugs and supplements are the most frequently mentioned when it comes to atomic accidents; the rationale is to take high amounts of non-radioactive iodine, because it is the mineral most voraciously consumed by the thyroid, whose tissue is one of the most susceptible to cancer.
The idea is to dilute any absorbed radioactive iodine with a tide of safe iodine, to prevent the uptake of contaminated iodine. Imagine that you are forced to take a sip of water from a bottle. If there is little water inside the bottle and it is contaminated, you will expose yourself to a high dose of radiation, but if you fill the bottle with safe water first, the contaminated fraction will be diluted a lot and the same sip you need will be much less concentrated, less dangerous.
Be careful, though:
The intake of potassium iodide is not necessarily free of undesirable effects; it can worsen or even trigger disturbances in thyroid metabolism,
The presence of contaminated iodine in the environment is linked to the type of device detonated, i.e. it is not necessarily present, so wait for guidance from the control bodies before taking anything.
KEY POINTS
The Cold War has been over for more than 20 years and many people have never lived under the spectre of atomic destruction. However, a nuclear attack is still a real threat. Global politics is far from stable and human nature has not changed much in the last twenty years. "The most persistent sound that resonates through human history is the beating of war drums". As long as nuclear weapons exist, there will always be a danger that they will be used. Can nuclear war be survived? There is only speculation about this, some say yes, others say no. For some, especially those living in large population centres, it may seem like a completely useless mental effort. If there are any survivors, they will probably be people who are mentally and logistically prepared for such an event and who live in remote areas that have no strategic importance for a possible bombing. What should you do? Where could you find refuge?
Part -1 Preparing in advance
1
Make a plan of action. In the unfortunate event of a nuclear attack, it will not be safe to venture outside to hunt for food - you should stay in a shelter for at least 48 hours, preferably longer. Having food and medicine on hand can alleviate the situation and perhaps allow you to concentrate on other aspects of survival.
2
Stock up on non-perishable food. This type of food can last for many years, whether it is in a pantry or to sustain you after an attack. Choose products that are rich in carbohydrates, so that they can provide you with the nourishment you need even at low cost, and store them in a cool, dry place.
Rice
Wheat
Beans
Sugar
Honey
Cereals
Pasta
Condensed milk
Vegetables and dried fruit
Accumulate supplies slowly. Every time you go to the supermarket, buy one or two extra products to add to your survival stock. Eventually, you should be able to get a reserve that will last for months.
Be sure to set aside a can opener for canned goods.
3
Conserve water. Consider keeping a reserve of water in plastic containers. Clean the containers with a bleach solution and then fill them with filtered and distilled water.
Aim to have about four litres of water per person per day;
To purify water during an attack, keep bleach and potassium hydride on hand.
4
Get communication devices. Being able to stay informed, as well as being able to report your location, can be vital. Here is what you may need:
