Damaging factors nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons have five main damaging factors. The distribution of energy between them depends on the type and conditions of the explosion. The impact of these factors also varies in form and duration (contamination of the area has the longest impact).
Shock wave. A shock wave is a region of sharp compression of a medium that spreads in the form of a spherical layer from the explosion site at supersonic speed. Shock waves are classified depending on the propagation medium. A shock wave in the air occurs due to the transmission of compression and expansion of layers of air. With increasing distance from the explosion site, the wave weakens and turns into an ordinary acoustic one. Wave when passing through this point space causes changes in pressure, characterized by the presence of two phases: compression and expansion. The compression period begins immediately and lasts a relatively short time compared to the expansion period. The destructive effect of a shock wave is characterized by excess pressure at its front (front boundary), velocity pressure, and the duration of the compression phase. A shock wave in water differs from an air wave in terms of its characteristics (higher excess pressure and shorter exposure time). The shock wave in the ground, when moving away from the explosion site, becomes similar to a seismic wave. Exposure of people and animals to shock waves can result in direct or indirect injuries. It is characterized by mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe damage and injuries. The mechanical impact of a shock wave is assessed by the degree of destruction caused by the action of the wave (weak, medium, strong and complete destruction are distinguished). Energy, industrial and municipal equipment as a result of the impact of a shock wave can receive damage, also assessed by their severity (weak, medium and strong). Exposure to a shock wave can also cause damage Vehicle, waterworks, forests. Typically, the damage caused by a shock wave is very great; it is applied both to human health and to various structures, equipment, etc.
Light radiation. It is a combination of the visible spectrum and infrared and ultraviolet rays. Glowing area nuclear explosion characterized by very high temperature. The damaging effect is characterized by the power of the light pulse. Exposure to radiation in humans causes direct or indirect burns, divided by severity, temporary blindness, and retinal burns. Clothing protects against burns, so they often occur on open areas of the body. Fires at facilities also pose a great danger National economy, in forests, resulting from the combined effects of light radiation and shock waves. Another factor in the impact of light radiation is the thermal effect on materials. Its nature is determined by many characteristics of both the radiation and the object itself.
Penetrating radiation. This is gamma radiation and the flux of neutrons emitted in environment. Its exposure time does not exceed 10-15 s. The main characteristics of radiation are flux and particle flux density, dose and dose rate of radiation. The severity of radiation injury mainly depends on the absorbed dose. When ionizing radiation propagates through a medium, it changes its physical structure, ionizing the atoms of substances. When people are exposed to penetrating radiation, radiation sickness of varying degrees may occur (most severe forms usually end fatal). Radiation damage can also be caused to materials (changes in their structure can be irreversible). Materials with protective properties are actively used in the construction of protective structures.
Electromagnetic pulse. A set of short-term electric and magnetic fields resulting from the interaction of gamma and neutron radiation with atoms and molecules of the medium. The impulse does not have a direct effect on a person; the objects it affects are all bodies that conduct electric current: communication lines, power transmission lines, metal structures, etc. The result of exposure to an impulse may be failure various devices and structures carrying current, damage to the health of people working with unprotected equipment. The impact of electromagnetic pulses on equipment that is not equipped with special protection is especially dangerous. Protection may include various “additives” to wire and cable systems, electromagnetic shielding, etc.
Radioactive contamination of the area. occurs as a result of the fallout of radioactive substances from the cloud of a nuclear explosion. This is the damage factor that has the longest effect (tens of years), acting over a huge area. Radiation from fallout radioactive substances consists of alpha, beta and gamma rays. The most dangerous are beta and gamma rays. A nuclear explosion creates a cloud that can be carried by the wind. The fallout of radioactive substances occurs within 10-20 hours after the explosion. The scale and degree of contamination depend on the characteristics of the explosion, surface, and meteorological conditions. As a rule, the radioactive trace zone has the shape of an ellipse, and the extent of contamination decreases with distance from the end of the ellipse where the explosion occurred. Depending on the degree of infection and possible consequences external irradiation distinguishes zones of moderate, strong, dangerous and extremely dangerous infection. The damaging effects are mainly caused by beta particles and gamma irradiation. Particularly dangerous is the ingestion of radioactive substances into the body. The main way to protect the population is isolation from external influence radiation and preventing the entry of radioactive substances into the body. It is advisable to shelter people in shelters and anti-radiation shelters, as well as in buildings whose design weakens the effect of gamma radiation. Means are also used personal protection.
Protective structures and actions to shelter in them
Protective structures are structures specifically designed to protect people, in particular, from the effects of the damaging factors of a nuclear explosion. They are divided into shelters and anti-radiation shelters (PRU), as well as the simplest shelters - cracks. In the event of a sudden attack, premises suitable for this purpose can be adapted for shelters and control structures. Shelters provide reliable protection people sheltered in them from the effects of all damaging factors of a nuclear explosion. People can be in them for a long time. Reliability of protection is achieved through the strength of structures and the creation of normal sanitary and hygienic conditions. Shelters can be built-in or free-standing (built-in is the most common). Anti-radiation shelters protect people from external gamma radiation and direct contact of radioactive substances with the skin, from light radiation and shock waves. The protective properties of the PRU depend on the attenuation coefficient, which shows how much the radiation level in the open area is greater than the radiation level in the shelter. Basements and basements of buildings with a high attenuation coefficient are often adapted for PRUs. The PRU must create conditions for the normal life of the sheltered people (appropriate sanitary and hygienic conditions, etc.). The simplest shelters - cracks, naturally provide much less protection from damaging factors. The use of cracks is usually accompanied by the use of personal protective equipment. Work to bring protective structures into readiness is carried out under the guidance of civil defense headquarters, and their compliance with established standards is checked. The rules and procedures for people to take shelter in protective structures are established by the Civil Defense headquarters.
Individual protection means
Respiratory protection. These include gas masks, respirators, cotton-gauze bandages and anti-dust fabric masks. These products provide respiratory protection from harmful impurities and radioactive substances contained in the air.
Skin protection products. Exists urgency in case of nuclear contamination in the protection of everything skin person. Skin protection products are divided according to the principle of action into isolating and filtering. They provide full protection skin from exposure to alpha particles and weaken the light radiation of a nuclear explosion.
Medical protective equipment is used to reduce the impact of damaging factors on the human body and prevent undesirable consequences of this exposure (radioprotective agents from the personal first aid kit).
Nuclear explosion and radioactive contamination
The effects associated with nuclear explosions are deadly - blinding light, intense heat (thermal radiation), primary radiation, explosion, fire caused by the thermal pulse, and secondary fires caused by destruction. A nuclear explosion produces radioactive particles called fallout, which can be carried hundreds of miles by wind.
The use of a radiation dissemination device (RDD, often called a "dirty nuclear bomb" or "dirty bomb") by terrorists is considered more likely than the use of nuclear weapons. These weapons are a combination of conventional explosives and radioactive materials and are designed to spread deadly weapons over a wide area. and close to lethal amounts of radiation, terrorists like them because, compared to nuclear ones, they require almost no technical skills to assemble and use. In addition, the radioactive materials used in them are widely used in medicine, agriculture, industry and. research and are much more accessible compared to substances at the level of uranium or plutonium.
Terrorist use of nuclear weapons will very likely be limited to one fairly small “suitcase.” The power of such weapons is approximately equal to the range of bombs used in World War II. The nature of the impact would be similar to if the weapon were delivered on an intercontinental missile, but the range and force would be much more limited.
It is impossible to know how much advance warning there will be before a terrorist attack. The possibility of a surprise attack cannot be ruled out.
The danger of a massive strategic nuclear attack with a large number of weapons has diminished with the end of the Cold War. However, states with nuclear programs have supported some terrorists.
In the event of a threat of attack from a hostile country, people living near potential targets will be warned to evacuate or may themselves decide to move to a place not considered a likely target.
In general, potential targets are:
Location of strategic weapons and military bases.
Government centers such as the national capital, and regional capitals.
Important transport and communication hubs.
Manufacturing, industrial, technological and financial centers.
Oil refineries, power plants and chemical plants.
Major ports and airports.
In the event of a nuclear attack, shelter is absolutely necessary. There are two types of shelter - from explosion and from radioactive fallout. A blast shelter provides some protection from blast pressure, initial radiation, heat and fire, but even such a shelter will not withstand a direct nuclear strike. Fallout shelters do not have to be specially constructed. This can be any sheltered location as long as the walls and ceiling are thick and dense enough to absorb the radiation emitted by the sediment particles. The three protective factors of a fallout shelter are reflection, distance and time.
Reflection. The heavier and denser the materials - thick walls, concrete, bricks, books and earth - between you and the sediment particles, the better.
Distance. How more distance between you and the radioactive particles, so much the better. A location underground, such as the basement of a home or office building, will provide better protection than the ground floor. The center floor of a high-rise building may be better, depending on what is nearby at that level and where significant precipitation particles will accumulate. Particles collect on flat roofs, so the top floor is not suitable, nor is the floor adjacent to the flat roof of an adjacent building.
Time. Radiation levels from precipitation fall relatively quickly. After some time you will be able to leave the shelter. Radioactive fallout is most dangerous to people during the first two weeks, during which time radiation levels drop to approximately 1-3%.
Remember, any protection, no matter how temporary, is better than no protection at all, and the more reflection, distance and time you can take advantage of, the better.
Electromagnetic pulse
In addition to other effects, the explosion nuclear bomb in or above the earth's atmosphere can create an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), a high-density electric field. EI is similar to a lightning strike, but stronger, faster and shorter. EI can damage electronic structures connected to power sources or antennas, including communications systems, computers, electrical devices and the ignition system of a car or aircraft. Damage can range from a minor malfunction to burning components. Most electronic equipment within a 1,000-mile radius from a high-altitude nuclear explosion could be damaged. Radios with short antennas that run on batteries usually do not malfunction. Although EI is unlikely to harm people, the pulse may be harmful to people with pacemakers or other built-in electronic equipment.
How to prepare for a nuclear explosion or radioactive contamination
1. Listen to warning signals and all warning sources in your community. You need to know what these signals are, what they mean, how they are used, and what you should do if you hear them.
2. Gather and keep ready an emergency kit of food, water, medicine, fuel and personal items. The supply should last up to 2 weeks - the more, the better.
3. Find out which public buildings in your community may have been designated as fallout shelters. They may have been built many years ago, so start there and find out which buildings are still in use and could be used again as a shelter.
Call your local emergency management office.
Search on public buildings black and yellow radiation shelter signs. Note: With the end of the Cold War, many signs were removed from specially designed buildings.
If official shelters have not been built or you cannot find them, make your list of potential shelters near your home, place of work and school: a basement or windowless room on the central floors of a high-rise building, as well as subways and tunnels.
Give your family clear instructions about where radiation shelters are located and what actions to take in the event of an attack.
4. If you live in an apartment building or high-rise, discuss with the manager the most safe place in a shelter building and how to maintain life support for residents until it is safe to go outside.
5. There are not many public shelters in suburban and rural areas. If you want to build a shelter yourself, consider the following features.
The best place to shelter from radioactive fallout is a basement or underground room. Often, only minor changes are enough, especially if your home has two or more floors and the basement - or one of its corners - goes underground.
In peacetime, radiation shelters can be used as warehouses, but only if the items stored there can be quickly removed. (When putting things away, dense, heavy objects can be used to enhance the reflection.)
A windproof room can be used as a shelter during a nuclear explosion or for protection against radiation, especially in a house without a basement.
Items needed to stay in the shelter do not have to be stored as long as you can quickly move them to the shelter.
6. Find out about your community's evacuation plans. Plans may include evacuation routes, evacuation locations, public warning systems, and provision of transportation for those without cars and for people with special needs.
7. Purchase any other emergency preparedness booklets you may need.
What to do during a nuclear explosion or radiation contamination
1. Don't look at the flash or fireball - you may go blind.
2. If you hear an attack warning:
Take shelter as soon as possible, UNDERGROUND IF POSSIBLE, and do not emerge until otherwise instructed.
If at this time you find yourself outside and cannot immediately get into the room, take cover behind any object that may provide protection. Lie flat on the ground and cover your head.
If the explosion occurred at some distance, the blast wave may take 30 seconds or more to reach you.
3. Protect yourself from radioactive fallout. If you're close enough to see a blinding flash or nuclear explosion, fallout will occur in about 20 minutes. Take shelter even if you are miles from the epicenter—winds can carry radioactive particles hundreds of miles. Remember the three protective factors: reflection, distance and time.
4. Carry a battery-powered radio with you and listen official reports. Follow the instructions you receive. Instructions from local authorities should always be followed first: they know the situation on the ground best.
What to do after a nuclear explosion or radiation contamination
In a public or home shelter:
1. Do not leave your shelter until officials say it is safe to do so. Once out of hiding, follow their instructions.
2. In a special radiation shelter, do not leave until local authorities They will not say that it is possible or advisable to go out. The length of your stay can vary from one day to two to four weeks.
Contamination from a radiation propagation device can cover a wide area, depending on the amount of conventional explosives used, radioactive material and atmospheric conditions.
A terrorist’s “suitcase” nuclear device, detonated on the ground or near the surface of the earth, will draw soil and debris into the explosion cloud and produce a large amount of radioactive fallout.
A nuclear weapon delivered by a missile from a hostile country would likely explode much more powerfully and create a larger cloud of radioactive fallout.
The decay time of radioactive fallout is the same, that is, residents of areas with the most high level radiation must remain in the shelter for up to a month.
The most intense precipitation will be limited to the explosion area and the area along the wind movement. 80% of precipitation will fall within the first 24 hours.
Due to this, and due to the extremely limited number of weapons that terrorists could use, most of the country will not be affected by the fallout.
In most affected areas, people will be allowed to leave shelters within a few days and, if necessary, evacuate to uninfected areas.
3. Although it may be difficult, make every effort to maintain sanitary conditions to the shelter.
4. Water and food may be in short supply. Use them sparingly, but do not impose a rigid diet, especially on children, the sick or the elderly.
5. Help shelter managers. Being with a lot of people in a small space can be challenging and unpleasant.
Homecoming
1. Listen to the radio for information on what to do, where to go and what places to avoid.
2. If your home was within the shock wave of a bomb, or if you live in a high-rise or apartment building that was hit by a normal explosion, check for signs of collapse or damage, such as:
leaning chimneys, falling bricks, crumbling walls, crumbling plaster.
fallen small pieces of furniture, paintings and mirrors.
broken window glass.
overturned bookcases, walls or other firmly standing objects.
fire escaping from damaged fireplaces and stoves.
breakthrough of gas and electric lines.
3. Immediately clean up spilled medications, flammable liquids, and other potentially hazardous substances.
4. Listen to battery-powered radios for instructions and information about services in your community.
5. Regularly listen to information about help that may be announced on radio and television. Local, state and federal governments and other organizations will help meet emergency needs and repair damage or losses.
6. The danger may be aggravated by damage to water mains and power lines.
7. If you turned off gas, water and electricity before going to the shelter:
Do not turn on the gas yourself. The gas company will turn it on or you will receive other instructions.
Turn on the water, the main valve only after you know that the water supply is working and the water is not contaminated.
Turn on the electricity, the main unit, only after you know that the wires in your house are not damaged and the power supply in your area is functioning.
Check the waste disposal system for damage before using the toilets.
8. Stay away from damaged areas.
9. Stay away from areas marked “radiation hazards” or “hazardous materials.”
Drugs for the prevention and treatment of radiation sickness
For the prevention of radiation injuries and treatment different forms, stages and manifestations of radiation sickness, a large number of different medicines are used. Preventive agents are combined under common name"radio protectors". They are used when there is a threat of radiation injuries, radiation therapy cancer patients, working with radioactive substances. Some drugs have a general (systemic) effect. Others are used topically to prevent and treat lesions of the skin and adjacent tissues. As radioprotectors general action, usually used internally, sulfur-containing compounds (Cystamine), serotonin derivatives (Mexamine), glycerol ethers (Batilol), etc. are used. For protection thyroid gland for damage caused by radioactive iodine, use potassium iodide. When radioactive compounds enter the stomach, enteral sorbents are used ( activated carbons and etc.); various complexones (Pentacin, Ferrocin, etc.). For the treatment of general manifestations of radiation sickness (damage to the nervous, cardiovascular systems, vomiting, hematopoiesis disorders, etc.) are used medicines appropriate pharmacological profile (Leukogen, Zymosan Suspension, Actovegin.). For the prevention and treatment of skin radiation injuries, a number of ointments, liniments and other dosage forms(Tezana liniment, Parmidine ointment, Dietone ointment, etc.).
So, let's say a low-yield nuclear bomb explodes in your city. How long will you have to hide and where to do it to avoid consequences in the form of radioactive fallout?
Michael Dillon, a scientist at Livermore National Laboratory, spoke about radioactive fallout and survival techniques. After numerous studies of radioactive fallout, analysis of many factors and possible development events, he developed a plan of action in the event of a disaster.
At the same time, Dillon's plan is aimed at ordinary citizens, who have no way to determine where the wind will blow and what the magnitude of the explosion was.
Little bombs
Dillon's method for protecting against radioactive fallout has so far been developed only in theory. The fact is that it is designed for small nuclear bombs from 1 to 10 kilotons.
Dillon argues that nuclear bombs are now associated with incredible power and the destruction that could occur during cold war. However, such a threat seems less likely than terrorist attacks using small nuclear bombs, several times less than those that fell on Hiroshima, and simply incomparably less than those that could destroy everything if there was a global war between countries.
Dillon's plan is based on the assumption that the city survived a small nuclear bomb, and now its residents must flee the radioactive fallout.
The diagram below shows the difference between the radius of a bomb in the situation Dillon examines and the radius of a bomb from a Cold War arsenal. The most dangerous area is indicated in dark blue (psi is the pound/in2 standard used to measure the force of an explosion, 1 psi = 720 kg/m2).
People located a kilometer from this explosion zone risk receiving radiation doses and burns. The range of radiation hazards from a small nuclear bomb is much smaller than from Cold War thermonuclear weapons.
For example, a 10 kiloton warhead would create a radiation threat 1 kilometer from the epicenter, and radioactive fallout could travel another 10 to 20 miles. So it turns out that nuclear attack today it's not immediate death for all living things. Maybe your city will even recover from it.
What to do if a bomb exploded
If you see a bright flash, don't go near the window - you could get hurt while you're looking around. As with thunder and lightning, the blast wave travels much slower than the explosion.
Now you will have to take care of protection from radioactive fallout, but in the event of a small explosion, you do not need to look for a special isolated shelter. For protection, you can take refuge in an ordinary building, you just need to know which one.
30 minutes after the explosion you should find a suitable shelter. In 30 minutes, all the initial radiation from the explosion will disappear, and main danger There will be radioactive particles the size of a grain of sand that will settle around you.
Dillon explains:
If, during a disaster, you are in a precarious shelter that cannot provide reasonable protection, and you know that there is no such building within 15 minutes, you will have to wait half an hour and then go look for it. Make sure you are clear of sand-sized radioactive substances before you enter the shelter.
But what buildings can become a normal shelter? Dillon says the following:
There should be as many obstacles and distance as possible between you and the consequences of the explosion. Buildings with thick concrete walls and roofs, a lot of earth, for example when you are sitting in a basement surrounded by earth on all sides. You can also go deep into large buildings in order to be as far as possible from the open air with the consequences of a disaster.
Think about where you can find such a building in your city, and how far it is from you.
Maybe it's the basement of your home, or a building with a lot of interior spaces and walls, a library with stacks of books and concrete walls, or something else. Just choose buildings that you can reach within half an hour, and don't rely on transport - many will flee the city and the roads will be completely clogged.
Let's say you got to your shelter, and now the question arises: how long to sit in it until the threat passes? The films show different developments of events, ranging from a few minutes in a shelter to several generations in a bunker. Dillon claims that they are all very far from the truth.
It is best to stay in the shelter until help arrives.
Given that we are talking about a small bomb with a blast radius of less than a mile, rescuers must react quickly and begin evacuation. In the event that no one comes to help, you need to spend at least a day in the shelter, but it’s still better to wait until the rescuers arrive - they will indicate the necessary evacuation route so that you do not jump out into places with high levels of radiation.
The principle of operation of radioactive fallout
It may seem strange that it would be safe enough to leave the shelter after 24 hours, but Dillon explains that the most great danger after the explosion comes from early radioactive fallout, and it is heavy enough to settle within a few hours after the explosion. Typically they cover the area in the immediate vicinity of the explosion, depending on the wind direction.
These large particles are the most dangerous due to the high level of radiation, which will ensure the immediate onset of radiation sickness. This distinguishes them from lower doses of radiation many years after the incident.
Taking refuge in a shelter won't save you from the prospect of cancer in the future, but it will prevent imminent death from radiation sickness.
It is also worth remembering that radioactive contamination is not a magical substance that flies everywhere and penetrates into every place. There will be a limited region with high levels of radiation, and after you leave the shelter, you will need to get out of it as soon as possible.
This is where you need rescuers who will tell you where the border of the danger zone is and how far you need to go. Of course, in addition to the most dangerous large particles, many lighter ones will remain in the air, but they are not capable of causing immediate radiation sickness - what you are trying to avoid after an explosion.
Dillon also noted that radioactive particles decay very quickly, so being outside the shelter 24 hours after the explosion is much safer than immediately after it.
Our pop culture continues to savor the theme of a nuclear apocalypse, when only a few survivors remain on the planet, sheltered in underground bunkers, but a nuclear attack may not be so destructive and large-scale.
So you should think about your city and figure out where to run if something happens. Maybe some ugly concrete building that you always thought was an architectural miscarriage will one day save your life.
How to survive after a nuclear warNuclear war is not a scenario that most people want to survive. In the sixties, the Cuban Missile Crisis pushed us to the dangerous edge, but humanity has yet to experience an event that would lead to its potential extinction.
Nuclear winter is itself a theoretical proposition; scientists believe that in the event of a nuclear war great amount the soot would be released into the stratosphere and spread by winds across the planet, blocking the sun and causing temperatures to drop. The plants will wither and die, then the animals will follow. Decay food chain will lead to the extinction of the human race.
A nuclear winter could last for years or even decades, and while it lasts, the people who survived the nuclear war will not be able to restore civilization. The only way to ensure the survival of the human race is to follow tips for surviving a nuclear winter.
10. Live in the countryside
This may sound like useless advice, but the question of who survives the first nuclear explosions will be decided by no more than geographical location. Estimates made in the 1960s indicated that Russia was launching a devastating attack on the United States in which 100-150 million people would be killed in the initial blasts—more than two-thirds of the population at that time. Major cities will be completely inaccessible as a result of the explosion and the radiation that will accompany the explosions. In general, if you live in a city, you are almost certainly doomed, but if you live in a rural area, you have a moderate chance of survival.
9. Abandon religious beliefs
This advice (and image) may be somewhat controversial, but there are many good reasons why religious beliefs might hinder the efforts of survivors of a potential nuclear war. First of all, going to church on Sunday is not the number one priority after a nuclear disaster. But seriously: in order to survive, you may have to perform actions that are unthinkable for many religious (or simply highly moral) people (see No. 8). The survivors' mindset must be decidedly "Machiavellian": the whole world is open to us; questions of morality are secondary to the question of survival at any cost.
If your religion prohibits you from eating certain foods, you should give up such dietary obligations and eat what you can find. Perhaps the realization that God (or any other deity) could have prevented the collapse of civilization, if he/she really exists, will help you abandon your faith.
8. Kill/Release pets
So, you survived the initial explosion, and now you are an atheist living in the village. What's next? Let's think about your pets. Pets need food, water and care - and don't love them too much during a nuclear winter. You won't live long if you share every morsel of food with Rex.
For those heartless people who may be thinking of killing and eating their pet(s), please note that food will be extremely scarce. Most people (I hope) find these thoughts disgusting and will simply let their beloved animal go wildlife. But I say this in all seriousness: nuclear winter survivors, give up all hope of saving your goldfish. Small animals can simply be destroyed without even trying to eat them - this will at least save them from hunger in the future.
7. Take cover
A minute of science: in the event of several nuclear explosions in major cities, a huge amount of soot and thick smoke from fires will rise into the stratosphere, preventing sunlight over much of the Earth's surface for many years or even decades.
The surface temperature will decrease sharply, and near-zero values will remain indefinitely. In other words, the need for warm clothing cannot be ignored - so you can start packing your insulated clothes if you are not already doing so. Unfortunately, permanent freezing is not the end of your worries; scientists suggest that massive destruction of the ozone layer will occur, that is, a huge amount of ultraviolet radiation will leak onto the surface of the planet, which leads to death from skin cancer. You can reduce this impact by avoiding sleeping in open spaces, and always wear some kind of hat to protect your face from the cold and harmful effects ultraviolet rays.
6. Arm yourself
If you live in a country where guns are readily available and legal, it won't be too difficult for you to arm yourself against robbers or potential cannibals. Desperate conditions may cause many survivors to steal food from other survivors in order to stave off starvation. Robberying a local store with a pistol is a perfectly viable option for those in America (or any other country without significant control over firearms) - but you need to make sure that the store owner does not pull out the gun. Otherwise, you may want to keep a knife for protection. For several months after the initial explosions, hunting will still be possible as the animals are not yet extinct. If possible, stock up on meat early on.
5. Learn to recognize cannibals
When all the big meaty animals go extinct after a nuclear war, it is inevitable that humans will resort to cannibalism to survive. In fact, you might consider cannibalism for yourself at some point when you're starving and find a useful corpse in your area.
As for the other survivors: they will either try to help you or try to eat you, of course, it is important to distinguish between these two reasons. People who eat human flesh tend to suffer from Kuru symptoms; brain pollution, which leads to very noticeable consequences. For example, if a person is walking towards you swaying from side to side and struggling to walk in a straight line, then it is better to run away as he is either drunk or has symptoms of Kuru. Other symptoms include uncontrollable shaking and violent bursts of laughter in inappropriate situations. Kuru is an incurable disease and death usually occurs within a year of infection, so don't eat human flesh - nuclear winter or not!
4. Travel alone
Introverts will thrive in a post-apocalyptic environment, at least compared to those who are instinctively drawn to cell phones, finding yourself alone. Having a family - especially if it includes children - is not a smart move given the food shortages. Ignore the "outlaw" or "raider" gang clichés that Hollywood feeds us in films like "The Road" and "The Book of Eli." In reality, such groups will never be able to find enough food to support themselves in the long term. This doesn't mean you should abandon (or eat) your family. Simply searching for a large group is not good solution for those who want to avoid hunger.
3. Eat insects
A sharp reduction in the number sun rays and fallout during a nuclear winter will make growth impossible and kill most of the plant life on Earth, many animals in turn will quickly die out from lack of food. For this reason, small insects such as ants, crickets, wasps, grasshoppers and beetles are some of the creatures that are likely to survive in the long term. They will also be fantastic sources of protein to support muscle mass: Grasshoppers have the highest percentage of protein: 20g for every 100g of weight. Crickets are rich in iron and zinc, and ants are excellent sources of calcium. Of course, insects are not as tasty as a bucket of fried chicken (though you don't know for sure), but at least they are preferable to starvation.
2. Clean up trash
This may not be the most pleasant activity in a post-apocalyptic time. Who wouldn't want to be able to wander around shopping center, stealing any desired item without experiencing legal retribution? Don't get too excited, though: robbing cash registers will become a pointless exercise once civilization collapses. Instead, it's better to focus on hacking food and drink vending machines. If you're hungry, try emptying trash cans for scraps or looking for canned goods that have an indefinite shelf life. It's also fairly easy to find clothing to keep you warm, and if your country doesn't have gun control, you can find guns to protect yourself.
1. Avoid the contaminated area
The photo above shows the ghost town of Pripyat, the site of the 1986 accident. Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Due to massive radioactive contamination caused by the explosion at nuclear power plant, the city was evacuated. The disaster caused 31 immediate deaths from radiation poisoning and several hundred more from various types cancer later. Today the city is uninhabitable. Radiation levels are too high to safely support life. After a nuclear disaster, radiation levels are likely to be significantly higher. Everyone who is inside major cities, which will bomb, will quickly receive a dose of radioactive poisoning and will soon die.
IN last days Everyone is just discussing whether the third world war will begin between the USA and Russia or not. In the media and social networks you constantly come across materials about the coming “nuclear apocalypse”, which in turn provokes attacks of fear and hysteria in many. Over the past years, we have already forgotten the warning signals, and the younger generation knows about the threat only by computer games. Life tells what to do if a nuclear mushroom appears on the horizon.
This is, of course, not the Cuban Missile Crisis, but the degree of paranoia in the air has increased sharply. And although no one promises to turn other countries into “nuclear ashes,” there are still enough reasons. The latest of these is the US threat to launch a missile strike on Syria.
The atomic threat has already been largely erased from people's memory. Hardly anyone will now say what one long beep and two short beeps mean, or will quickly answer where the nearest bomb shelter is located. The nuclear mushroom on the horizon has become something like a zombie apocalypse - pure fantasy from books about stalkers and the third world war. We imagined how a reader of such literature would survive after a real nuclear strike.
First day
The threat of nuclear war was a tempting prospect for me. “Battles with marauders”, “survival in radioactive forests”, “clashes with mutants” - this sounded even cooler than a “zombie apocalypse”. I went online, found out that if something happened, Washington would start bombing cities at six o’clock in the evening, and read what products to take. I went to the dacha and took my grandfather’s cartridges - in the event of an apocalypse, they will become the most valuable resource. In addition, I purchased a pistol through an anonymous browser. In addition, I bought a used car so that after the explosion I could go into the forest.
Valuable tips:
- The need to take weapons and ammunition with you is one of the most common myths about the nuclear apocalypse. Marauders and even more so mutants are nothing more than a figment of the imagination of writers. If you take weapons and ammunition with you, you will have to part with them at the first checkpoint.
- Instead of filling your backpack with pasta, take as many medications as possible. You will need antibiotics, insulin, and a variety of wound care products. Please note: you will not be able to obtain truly effective anti-radiation agents in advance. Drinking iodine, as most guides advise, is also not worth it, except for self-soothing.
Second day
A huge nuclear mushroom appeared on the horizon. I admired it from the window of my house, then quickly grabbed my backpack and went down to the garage. He turned on the car and drove into the forests to survive.
Valuable tips:
- You will hardly need transport. And in the forest you definitely won’t be able to hide from the explosion (and subsequent radioactive fallout). If after the explosion you find yourself far from the affected area, then the car, of course, will help. However, a pre-prepared car in the garage of your home is not the most useful thing. In the first hours after the explosion, it is better to sit at home. If the glass has survived, then simply post a signal for help and wait. You need to wait about three days - during this time the radioactive background will significantly decrease.
- The walls of the house do a good job of weakening radiation contamination. Prepare clothing that is as closed as possible and try to assess the situation. Don't panic. Turn on the TV and try to understand what happened - an explosion at a nuclear power plant, a terrorist attack, or the third world war began. After that, wait for rescuers or the military. Only they really know what needs to be done. It is better not to believe memos that have been floating around the Internet for decades and guides from stalker forums. Only the military has valid manuals, and they are not suitable for civilians.
- It’s better not to look at the “mushroom” - you can get a burn to the retina.
- Don’t count too much on mobile communications - if the third world war breaks out, you most likely won’t have access to it.
Valuable tips:
- Not all metro stations are suitable. You need deep stations that have retractable doors and a good ventilation system. Among the deep stations we can note "Admiralteyskaya" in St. Petersburg and the "Park Pobedy" station in Moscow. The metro may indeed be more useful than a bomb shelter, since it is regularly inspected. But staying in the subway for a long time is also not recommended. When the background subsides, try to leave the affected area. In this case, it is better to move underground - reduce your stay on the surface to a minimum.
- Once again: there is no need to go or run anywhere. Try to figure out which explosion zone you are in.
Valuable tips:
- Don't expect your life in a bomb shelter to be filled with dramatic events. Kitchen, toilet, bedroom - this is your route for the next couple of weeks.
- The main entertainment is, of course, information from outside. Bomb shelters are equipped (if you're lucky) with communication points.
- Despite the nervous situation, it is better not to run around the bomb shelter, so as not to increase the production of carbon dioxide.
Day ten
We rose to the surface for the first time. Now the adventures should definitely begin: searching for food, hunting, fights with marauders.
- If you still have to look for food, then do it as far as possible from the affected area. We are talking about 100 kilometers from the epicenter of a nuclear explosion. Forget about hunting cats and dogs - the simpler the food, the less nuclides it contains. Therefore, it is better to get by with plant foods. But in general, of course, it is wiser not to get food, but to eat exclusively canned food.
- It's best to stay with the military as long as possible. The military will assemble buses for emergency evacuation of people. After transferring to the tent camp, you will need to change clothes and undergo disinfection. If the dose of radiation received is too high, you will be sent to hospital. In addition, you need to obtain anti-radiation medications.
- If the third world war begins, they will come for you from the military registration and enlistment office. The rest will wait to be transferred to the rear.
- In the event of a single explosion, you will be transferred to children's camps and rest homes for temporary accommodation.
