“What if…” (Part II): How to Survive a Nuclear Attack

December 16, 2009 | Posted by Joan Crain

In order to prepare for any crisis, we are exploring ways to survive various types of disasters. This article discusses a nuclear attack; more specifically, and more likely, a so-called “dirty” bomb. It’s a conventional bomb that “scatters” radiological material; thus the name “dirty” bomb. I say more likely because it may be more easily acquired by a terrorist.

What if someone or some country successfully detonated one of these bombs somewhere in our country. How do we prepare for that?

As with any disaster, the three most important items must be water, food and shelter, preferably a safe room. Add a first aid kit, an emergency radio, and a very important item where radioactive fall-out is a possibility, Potassium Iodide.

What Does Potassium Iodide Do?

In the event of a nuclear accident, radioactive dirty bomb or nuclear explosion, after the initial catastrophic event, Iodine 131 is released into the atmosphere (basically, microscopic radioactive dust). This dust goes everywhere the prevailing winds are blowing—downwind of the target. If you breathe in this radioactive dust (those around the target and downwind will) it is absorbed inside your body by the thyroid gland. This absorption can damage the thyroid and, over time, cause thyroid cancer.

When Potassium Iodide is taken as directed, it literally “floods” the thyroid with a stabilized iodine, basically saturating the thyroid gland so that the radioactive Iodine 131 particles cannot find a home and is expelled out the normal body waste channels. Potassium Iodide tablets can prevent up to 99% of the damage caused by radioactive nuclear fallout (dust). The recommended dosage for an adult is to take one tablet 30 minutes before exposure. Check with your doctor or the FDA website for information on infant and children dosages. For maximum effectiveness the sooner you can take it the better after an event occurs.

What Potassium Iodide Doesn’t Do

False rumors and misunderstandings have spread for years that Potassium Iodide stops all kinds of radiation exposure, but the fact is that Potassium Iodide is NOT a magic pill. It’s one and ONLY job is to prevent thyroid cancer as a result of ingesting radioactive fallout (dust). It is NOT a radiation protection pill somehow stopping “radiation sickness” or anything else.

Nuclear radiation, like x-rays, is only stopped or minimized by 1) Mass: The amount of solid material (concrete, lead, etc.) between you and the radiation source, 2) Distance: How far away you are from the radiation source, and 3) Time: There are many types of radiation. Most have what is called ‘half-lives’ that drop their radiation levels significantly over the first few hours and days.

To reiterate, plan for several weeks supply of water, food, and Potassium Iodide. Gather together a good first aid kit, an emergency radio, and supplies to create a safe room, which I’ll cover next. Stay tuned.

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Joan has created the web site, Family Survival Planning, to help families prepare for the inevitable crises or possible disasters that may occur in our lives. Planning for survival is like insurance – you can’t buy it after a tornado blows your house down.

Categories: emergency preparedness | Tags: emergency preparedness, self reliance, surviving disasters | 1 Comment »

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