A nuclear attack isn't just bad news - it is what the worst nightmares are made of. The immediate aftermath of a nuclear bomb is bad. How bad? Imagine the worst thing you can possibly come up with. Multiply that by a thousand, and that’s a nuclear blast. However, the explosion itself does have limitations. In this article, we will provide you all that you need to know to survive a nuclear bomb's initial blast.
The US President, Donald Trump, has started an arms race. On the other side of the map, North Korea is getting ready for a nuclear war and developing its very own long-range missiles. Fears are also heightened by Russia when it violated weapons treaties in order for it to upgrade the country's nuclear arsenal. Dirty bombs and nuclear terrorism remain a sobering threat to us all.
Fortunately, the news we just presented is unlikely to trigger a nuclear war. It's also unlikely that there will be a nuclear bomb dropped right in your neighborhood. Still, it would be in your best interests to know what to do if anything happens.
You will know that a nuclear bomb has set off near your location when there is a sudden white light or flash of light in the sky. Another sign of an explosion is the trademark mushroom cloud. If the light blindness clears up but you're not feeling at well at all, then congratulations, you are still alive. If you had been within 10 miles of ground zero, you wouldn’t know what had hit you.
By the time you make sense of what is happening, the best thing you should do is to look for shelter to escape the nuclear fallout. The denser and thicker the material used in building the shelter you are hiding in, the better. Ideally this would be a cement underground bunker, but a fallout shelter will do.
For example, concrete or sturdy brick structures that don't have windows would make for the ideal basement. You can also head underground. If you have sufficient cover, you will only be exposed to 1/200 of the nuclear fallout radiation compared to being outside. Of course a real, specially designed modern bomb shelter will protect you better. However, if you are not near one, this would be your best option.
As for wooden structures like one-story buildings and typical residential homes, they won't be able to help you shield yourself from fallout radiation. It may be better than nothing but it is still best if you move to better locations such as the ones mentioned above. If you have thought about a protective shelter that's denser but you have to be exposed to the radiation for five minutes, don't hesitate to go for it. This option is better than staying in your home as it will only do more harm than good. If your option is to dash for 15 minutes or more while exposed to radiation, stay put. You should only make your move after an hour when the fallout radiation has subsided.
Lastly, remember that you should only eat food that is from sealed containers and drink bottled water. As you wait, you should also listen to a radio station for updates on where to find help.
