It’s extremely unlikely that you or your loved ones will ever experience a nuclear explosion. Even so, you may feel uneasy. The recent false alarm in Hawaii, where residents received erroneous text alerts about a missile attack, resulted in real panic and fear. You might be interested in learning how to prepare for the possibility of a nuclear accident or attack — however low that is.
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A nuclear/radioactive explosion is caused by a weapon or device that creates a nuclear reaction. Devices include small, portable “dirty bombs” containing both explosives and radioactive material that cause local blasts on the ground. On the other end of the spectrum are vastly more powerful nuclear weapons, carried by missiles, which can release radiation clouds spreading hundreds of miles.
Nuclear explosions lead to casualties, severe injuries and illness from blast, heat and radiation. Nuclear fallout is most dangerous within the first few hours after detonation, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s public readiness webpage.
Radiation sickness, or acute radiation syndrome, is a severe illness that can affect someone who is suddenly exposed to extremely high levels of radiation. Long-term health effects from radiation exposure include increased risk of developing cancer, depending on the radiation amount. Among pregnant women, there is risk of harm to a developing infant, including miscarriage, from prenatal radiation exposure.
If you’re worried about nuclear safety, experts suggest steps you can take:
Just in Case
Prepare as you would for a natural disaster. Preparing for the unlikely possibility of a nuclear emergency is similar to preparing for a hurricane in coastal areas, says John Moulder, a professor of radiation biology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. That includes identifying shelter locations in the vicinity of your home, workplace and schools.
Stock up on supplies. Every household should have an emergency supply kit for whatever disaster might arise. Kits should include bottled water, nonperishable foods, emergency medications, a flashlight and extra batteries. A hand-cranked or battery-operated radio can keep you connected when other power sources are out.
Make family contact plans. Talk about how you would reconnect with dispersed family members once the emergency passes and it’s safe to do so.
Consider if you live near a nuclear reactor. After a nuclear power plant emergency , potassium iodide (or KI) tablets or liquid can protect your thyroid gland from damage by blocking radioactive iodine in the air. It might make sense to stock potassium iodide if you live well within 20 miles of a nuclear plant. However, KI must be used according to instructions, Moulder warns. Potassium iodide could be poisonous at too high a dose.
[See: 10 Signs Your Thyroid Is Out of Whack.]
If a Nuclear Event Occurs
Go indoors. If a sudden blast occurs, get indoors quickly to avoid radiation. “As with a hurricane, where you want to be is a masonry building, if possible, and as low as you can be,” Moulder says. Cars and other vehicles do not provide adequate shelter.
Decontaminate yourself. If you were outside at the time of an explosion, after you get indoors remove (and dispose of) outer clothing. “They could have fallout on them,” Moulder explains. Wash any unprotected skin thoroughly with soap and water. If possible, take a shower.
Evacuate as advised. “If we know there’s a nuclear weapon coming, there will be an evacuation process,” says Dr. Nicole Simone, a radiation oncologist at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, in Philadelphia. It’s highly recommended to evacuate if you can, says Simone, a former instructor on the medical effects of ionizing radiation with the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute. By doing so promptly, you may avoid the radiation “plume” that spreads from an overhead bomb.
Shelter in place. Evacuation may be too difficult for people with disabilities or serious health problems. Environmental conditions such as harsh weather or impassable roads can also interfere. In that case, shelter in place, ideally in a basement, Simone says. “If you live in an apartment building, go into one of the units that’s in the interior of the building, so that you have some shielding,” she says. Stay away from the roof and windows and basically be as far from the explosion as possible.
Stay inside at least 24 hours. “Family should stay where they are inside,” the Homeland Security site recommends. “Reunite later to avoid exposure to dangerous radiation.” However, that can be hard advice for parents to follow, Moulder notes, when their first instinct is to try and get their kids.
Keep pets indoors. Your pets should also avoid going outside to be protected from radiation exposure.
Stay tuned and alert. Check for official information sources online, on TV or on the radio, as well as via text or voicemail messages. However, be aware that service could be disrupted.
If You’ve Been Exposed
Get treatment for injuries. If a dirty bomb goes off, blast injuries rather than radiation will be the biggest issue, says Simone, who is also part of the biodosimetry working group of the Radiation Event Medical Management (REMM) program of the Department of Health and Human Services. If you have any burns, cuts or blast wounds, go to your local hospital for treatment.
Track symptoms in writing. Having a sense of your degree of radiation exposure will help doctors plan post-blast treatment, Simone says. You can help by writing down any symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, headache and diarrhea. Note when symptoms started and how severe they are. If you feel warm, check your temperature with a thermometer.
Seek post-radiation treatment. The standard unit of measurement for radiation is a known as a gray. “If you had just a few gray, it might just be that you need some fluids to try and stay hydrated,” Simone says. “You could need some transfusions with a little more exposure.” You may also need anti-nausea and anti-diarrheal medications as gastric symptoms develop.
Beware of immune suppression. Following radiation exposure, your immune system can be suppressed. That can happen within a few days, Simone says, but it’s more likely to occur one to three weeks after exposure. Antibiotics will be key if you become immune-suppressed, she says. It’s important to stay in a clean environment at home, she adds. That includes thorough hand-washing and avoiding contact with sick people.
Get follow-up tests. Blood tests help pinpoint how much you’ve been affected by radiation. For hospitals, the best way to detect radiation injury is through an immediate white blood cell count, Moulder says, with a repeat sample done in another 24 to 48 hours. Many other tests might be needed.
Most U.S. hospitals and medical professionals have limited experience or training in dealing with radiation emergencies, Moulder points out. He suggests the REMM website as a comprehensive resource for health providers in dealing with a nuclear emergency, including a downloadable app.
[See: 10 Reasons You May Be Feeling Fatigued.]
Fortunately, nuclear events are extremely rare. It helps to keep risk in perspective. “It’s good to know that behind the scenes there is preparation on the local hospital level and then the national government level,” Simone says. “People do have plans for disaster. There are disaster drills all the time. We have stockpiles of different medications that would be useful in the event that this happened.” However, she adds, “I think that the likely event that any of this will happen is really slim to none.”
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Nuclear Fallout: Health Connection originally appeared on usnews.com
