Nuclear Detonation: Immediate Response

Preparation Steps

• Know your distance from likely target cities — at 10 km or more, survival is highly probable if you shelter immediately.
• Identify shelter points along your daily routes: basements and the interior rooms of large concrete buildings are best.
• Understand the 7-10 rule: radiation intensity decreases 10 times for every 7-fold increase in time since detonation. Most fallout is most dangerous in the first 24 hours.
• Pre-position at least 4 liters of water per person in a sealed container at your home and workplace.
• If authorities have pre-distributed potassium iodide (KI) tablets, keep them accessible and know the dosage instructions.

Immediate Actions

• If you see a blinding flash, DROP immediately — face down, hands tucked under your body to protect from the blast wave, which arrives seconds after the flash at a distance.
• After the blast wave passes, get inside the nearest substantial building within 10 to 15 minutes — before fallout begins to arrive.
• Move to the basement, or to innermost rooms on middle floors of a large building — these positions put the most mass between you and fallout.
• Seal doors, windows, and ventilation openings with duct tape and plastic sheeting or whatever materials are immediately available.
• Do not go outside to observe — fallout is invisible, odorless, and immediately dangerous.

What to Avoid

• Never look directly at the fireball — it causes instant blindness even at great distances.
• Do not go outside during the first 24 hours, when fallout radiation is at peak intensity.
• Do not drive away immediately — roads will be gridlocked and you may drive into a heavier fallout zone.
• Do not use your mobile phone for non-essential calls — networks will be severely overloaded; preserve battery for emergency broadcasts.
• Do not assume the event is over after one explosion — secondary effects, fires, and structural collapses continue.

Supplies Needed

• Stored water: minimum 4 liters per person, immediately accessible without going outside.
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio for receiving official emergency broadcasts.
• KI (potassium iodide) tablets if pre-distributed by national or local authorities.
• First aid kit for treating blast injuries, burns, and lacerations.
• Duct tape and heavy plastic sheeting for sealing a room against airborne fallout particles.

Recovery Steps

• Remain sheltered until official emergency broadcasts announce it is safe to leave — do not rely on guesswork.
• Before leaving shelter, decontaminate: remove your outer layer of clothing (removes up to 80% of external contamination), place it in a bag away from people, and shower thoroughly with soap and water.
• Seek medical attention for any blast injuries, burns, or significant radiation exposure symptoms (nausea, vomiting, hair loss).
• Document your location and the duration of your shelter stay for medical authorities.
• Follow official guidance on food and water safety before consuming anything that may have been exposed to fallout.