A danger of radioactive contamination, such as that resulting from "dirty bombs", "a radiological weapon" or a leak in a nuclear power plant, causes great concern. However, a calm and reasoned reaction is the key to effectively protecting yourself. In the case of dirty bombs and radiological weapons it is a deliberate attack, where radioactive waste is blown up with normal explosives in order to spread the radiation on a specific target. These are not atomic bombs because the force of the explosion and the contamination is localized. In the event of leaks from a nuclear power plant, mostly generated by an accident, the extent of the contamination depends on the violence with which the rupture occurred, the weather conditions, the orography and other factors.
Although the explosion is immediately visible and obvious, the presence and extent of the spills and the radioactivity are not clearly definable until specialized personnel with the right equipment draws a complete picture. Just like with any type of radiation, you must immediately limit body exposure. In particular, it is important to avoid breathing the radioactive dust that has been released into the air.
Steps
Step 1. Keep in mind from the beginning that to limit radiation exposure you have to focus on three things:
time, distance and refuge. The effects of radiation are cumulative, so the longer you stay in a contaminated area, the more radiation you absorb. To minimize the risk, try to follow these tips:
- Time: Reduce the time spent in a contaminated area to minimize the risk.
- Distance: Move away from the source of the radioactivity. The farther you are from the site of the explosion and the fallout, the lower the exposure. If you can leave, do it as soon as possible.
- Shelter: if there is a thick shelter between you and the radioactive material, then the amount of radiation absorbed is less.
- In the event of a nuclear reactor accident, time is not as urgent as in the case of dirty bombs or radiological weapons, even if you live within a radius of 15 km from the plant. You should already be aware of the procedures to be applied in the event of an accident at the plant.
Step 2. If you are in a larger geographic area that has been exposed to radiation then you need to leave quickly, otherwise you will need to take other precautions
After an explosion or a leak, if you can't get away quickly and safely, try to do the following:
- If you are outdoors and there has been an explosion or the authorities have issued a radiation alert nearby, cover your nose and mouth and seek immediate shelter inside a building that has not been damaged. Protect your nose and mouth with a handkerchief, hand, or whatever you have at your disposal (like a sweatshirt). An undamaged building is a building structure that appears safe on quick analysis, so the walls must be intact, without collapsing or breaking.
- Close the doors and windows. Turn off the air conditioner, heat pumps and other ventilation systems.
Step 3. If you are already inside a house, check that the house has not been damaged but remain inside
If your shelter is stable, stay where you are.
- If you are indoors and there is an explosion nearby or you are warned that radiation is penetrating your building, then cover your nose and mouth and exit immediately. Look for another shelter or another shelter that has not been damaged and enter it.
- Once you've found shelter, close the doors and windows. Turn off the air conditioning, heating and any type of ventilation system. Try to make the room “airtight” by piling objects and fabrics on the open areas. Do not turn on any ventilation system that draws air from the outside, such as the air conditioner or dehumidifier.
- Don't let the shelter overheat, otherwise weaker people run the risk of having a heart attack, choking, or suffering from other complications. Turning on the air conditioner from time to time is much better than dying from overheating.
- If you are in the car at the time of the accident, close all the windows and park. Enter an undamaged building. If it is not possible to leave the vehicle, keep the windows closed and do not use the air conditioning.
Step 4. Clean up quickly
If you think you have been exposed to radiation, take off your clothes and wash them as soon as possible. Authorities often suggest thinking of radioactive material as mud: do not walk around the house in contaminated clothing, do not spread the "dirt" everywhere and do not allow it to penetrate deep into the skin. Note that dust and radioactive particles or other material are only visible in the case of dirty bombs; contamination released from a nuclear reactor is invisible. The steps described in this article are applicable in both cases, only you will not "see" any radioactive particles if the danger comes from a leak in a power plant. To decontaminate yourself, proceed as follows:
- Eliminate the outer layer of clothing. Put them in a plastic bag and seal it. Leave it in a place such as the garage or car trunk, if the authorities want to test the clothing later.
- Take off your shoes once in the house or shelter (along with clothes). Place them in the plastic bag and seal it. If you can carry out these actions outside the home, better: in this way you avoid bringing residues of radioactivity inside. Do not crush the bag with the intention of letting the air out, otherwise you will disperse contaminated dust.
- Avoid pulling your clothes off over your head. If you have no alternative, at least cover your mouth and nose and hold your breath so as not to inhale the contaminated dust on your clothing. If you have to cut them, do it for the sake of your health. Any cut or wound on the skin must be protected before removing clothes, to prevent it from coming into contact with radioactive waste.
- Take a lukewarm shower. Do not use very hot water and do not rub yourself hard because it increases the absorption of harmful material. Wash your hair but only use shampoo, because the conditioner binds the particles of radioactive material to the hair.
- Wash from the top of the body to the bottom with a mild soap or water alone. Rub your eyes, ears and face.
- If you can't take a shower, use a sink and wash as best you can (wet wipes can also help).
- Children should take a shower too, but if they don't like it, avoid submerging them in water that could be contaminated. The shower is always the best solution, otherwise rub them with wet cloths.
Step 5. Eat only food and drink only liquids that were sealed
Anyone who remained open during and after the accident may have been exposed to radiation and are not safe. Food freshly removed from the refrigerator and pantry should be the safest, as should those still in sealed containers.
Step 6. Stay where you are and stay informed
Watch TV, listen to the radio and check the internet for official news as it becomes available.
In the event of a dirty bomb, the time spent indoors is relatively short, from 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on the weather conditions and other factors that the authorities will communicate
Step 7. Be very careful when you need to evacuate
One of the biggest concerns is panic: when there are traffic jams and long queues to refuel, it is not easy to leave the accident area. Having a car accident, getting injured or killed is of no help to you and your family, so try to be careful and proceed in an orderly manner.
- Stay informed regarding warnings from authorities.
- Be wary of gossip and unofficial news. They are rampant and often completely erroneous; don't rely on them to make your own decisions. Listen to the radio, watch TV and check the internet for advice and direction from the authorities.
Advice
- As with any emergency, local authorities may not be able to promptly provide information on what is happening and how you should act. Even so, listen to the radio, watch TV, and check the internet often for official news and information as it becomes available.
- Radiation is measured in millisieverts (mSv) while the dose absorbed by the body in milligray. Small controlled dosages are completely safe, but a strong exposure (around 5000 mSv) of the whole body can lead to death, while an exposure of 6000 mSv is fatal, unless it is treated immediately. Radiation-related diseases include leukemia, lung, thyroid and colon cancer.
- If you own a farm and a nuclear accident occurs nearby or radioactive waste explodes, your animals may be quarantined indefinitely (if they have been exposed to radiation), especially if they are dairy animals. If you can act safely, find shelter for the animals as soon as possible, put them in the barn and bar all windows, doors and any other access. Cover their food source with a tarpaulin and also protect the water.
- Unborn children are much safer in the mother's body than outside. Pregnant women should prioritize safe food and water.
- If you have to leave, try to bring your pets with you. If you abandon them, they run a high risk of dying from hunger and neglect. Try to clean contaminated animals, otherwise anyone who comes into contact with them will transfer the radioactive contamination. If you can't clean them, put them in an enclosed and safe place like a garage. Animals sense your anxiety, so try to stay calm around them.
- A controlled daily dosage of potassium iodide in pills can help prevent the body from absorbing radioactive iodine. However, it is imperative that it be administered by a doctor.
- Breastfeeding mothers can do so safely even if they have been contaminated on the outside, since the milk is protected. However, both the baby's and the mother's skin should be washed to prevent any possible transfer of contamination from the skin to the mouth. If the mother has been internally irradiated, then the milk is also contaminated, in which case infant formula should be used.
- Until you are decontaminated, avoid touching anyone on the mouth, nose and eyes.
- Understand that after the initial accident that created unintended radioactive exposure (such as a leak in a nuclear power plant or an atomic weapon explosion), the radiation in the air immediately begins to fall and the main source of the danger is the radioactive material (in the case of an atomic explosion it is the radioactive "rain"); for this reason, most of the food and objects that have been effectively sealed from contact with contaminated air are safe to handle.
- Strictly follow the instructions given by the authorities.
- The elderly and the chronically ill are more vulnerable to stress, cold, food shortages and so on. Take special care of their needs.
- Children with behavioral problems or learning difficulties, such as autism, can suffer from severe stress due to the changes caused by evacuation or life in shelters. Explain to them calmly and in easy-to-understand terms what is happening, make sure they are calm and keep them busy without hiding anything, unless it is something that may scare or worry them.
Warnings
- If you have to go out while the radiation level is still high, always keep your nose and mouth covered by using a handkerchief, shirt flap, kitchen roll or toilet paper wrapped several times.
- When protecting the nose and mouth of children and older people, be careful not to block their breathing.
- Anxiety and panic are closely related to the fear of radioactivity. Do your best to act calmly, rationally and with great attention by following the tips in this article. Realize that the chances of surviving a fallout are far greater than the stories you may have heard.
