How to Survive a Nuclear Attack
It’s the worst case scenario for any nation: one day everything seems to be fine, then, all of a sudden, a blast of epic proportions explodes out of nowhere. A nuclear explosion is enough to wipe out all existence in a given area, with little to no survivors left in the area of attack. While the possibilities of a nuclear attack are quite slim, it still pays for you to know some survival techniques in the event of a nuclear explosion.
How a Nuclear Attack Works
The nuclear bomb is one of the most advanced and most destructive weapons ever built. All atoms have a central core called a nucleus. The atomic nucleus possesses tremendous amounts of nuclear energy, particularly for very heavy atoms like uranium and plutonium. Nuclear weapons unleash the combined power of two very powerful forces at the nuclear level:
Fusion: when atoms are combined.
Fission: when atoms are split.
The first use of a nuclear weapon was during World War II, when the United States dropped a 4,000-kilogram uranium bomb called “Little Boy” over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Three days later, the 4,630-kilogram plutonium bomb named “Fat Man” was detonated over Nagasaki. After the end of the Cold War, many nations have signed agreements bringing to an end the threat of a full-blown nuclear Holocaust.
While the United States has never been attacked with a nuclear weapon, there are still threats from some nations and organizations to detonate nuclear weapons, so it’s still very important for you to know how to survive just in case you come face-to-face with the worst case scenario.
The Fallout Chamber
Nuclear attacks can be delivered in many ways. The conventional way to deliver a nuclear attack is to use a bomb, although many scientists are now conducting research on other ways to deliver nuclear weapons. Once a nuclear explosion occurs and you’re out in the open, there’s pretty much nothing you can do to survive. Depending on the weight and the chemical isotope used to build the weapon, the thermonuclear force is enough to vaporize and level everything within its effective range.
The biggest danger to a nuclear attack is fallout, or the remains of a nuclear explosion. Fallout can last from 15 to 30 days, depending on what was used to build the nuclear weapon. Fallout is composed of irradiated material that can cause cancer or even death. When the government announces an impending nuclear attack, it’s very important for you to go to a fallout shelter as quickly and calmly as you can. A fallout shelter should meet the following requirements:
Built underground, or partially underground, with very thick reinforced concrete surrounding the structure.
Should withstand megaton blasts and adequately protect the occupants from serious injuries or fatalities from nuclear shock.
Should be equipped with a stable supply of clean water and an adequate supply of food that will last well beyond the worst of the fallout.
While no nation has been attacked with a nuclear weapon since World War II, it still pays to know what you can do in the event of a nuclear attack. With these tips, you and the most important people in your life can survive the worst possible attacks of the enemy.