What happens when a nuclear explosion occurs?
And what should you do?
And where do you hide?
And how to save yourself in the event of the use of nuclear weapons?
Is it dangerous to take iodine as a preventive measure from the effects of a nuclear attack?
The answers are in this report.
In preparing this material, we resorted to various sources, including a video tape entitled "What would happen if we bombed a city with nuclear weapons?"
Produced in cooperation between the International Committee of the Red Cross, the "Kurzgesagt In a Nutshell" YouTube channel, the US government website ReadyReady and the French newspaper Lefigaro.
What happens when a nuclear explosion occurs?
The first stage of a nuclear detonation is in the first second of it
The first stage begins within a millisecond. A ball of plasma is released that is hotter than the sun and grows as a fireball with a diameter of more than two kilometers, and everything that falls within the range of this fireball of people or buildings evaporates.
A tsunami appears from a bright light, covering the city where the explosion occurred, anyone whose face is facing this bright light will lose sight for several hours.
This bright light produces a heat pulse containing energy and heat that burns anything 13 kilometers from the place of the detonation, and this means that anything within an area of 500 square kilometers that is combustible will start to ignite: plastic, wood, fabric, hair, and leather.
The second stage in a nuclear explosion is within a few seconds afterwards
Most of the people around the blast presume that something is not right, but it is too late, the bright light is followed by shock waves, and the heat and radiation from the fireball causes a bubble of very hot and very pressurized air, which expands faster than the speed of sound and causes stronger winds from hurricanes.
Facilities located within a kilometer of the fireball (not the center of the explosion) collapse to the ground, only reinforced concrete buildings may partially withstand pressure, and in an area of 175 square kilometers houses collapse, trapping hundreds of thousands of people.
The mushroom cloud of fireball remnants, dust and ash rises for kilometers into the sky during the subsequent minutes, casting a dark shadow over the devastated city, and this leads to violent air movement around the city destroying many buildings and providing more oxygen for the fires.
Twenty-one kilometers from the explosion, people will rush to their windows to watch the mushroom cloud and take pictures, unaware that the shock wave is coming at them to smash windows and create sharp shards of crumbling glass.
The third stage, which begins in the coming hours and days
Thousands will die as a result of cuts and burns, and thousands more will die under the rubble, hospitals have probably been destroyed, and most of the medical staff have lost their lives.
Depending on the type of weapon and the weather, a black rain containing ash and radioactive debris may begin to rain down on the ruins of the city and cover what remains of things and people, and with the radiation every breath carries poison into the lungs of survivors.
During the following days, the people who received the most radiation would die.
The fourth stage continues over the following weeks, months, and years
Over the subsequent weeks, months, and years, many of those who survive will develop cancers such as leukemia.
In summary, this is what happens about where the atomic bomb exploded:
Within a kilometer radius of a nuclear explosion: everyone will die.
Within a 7 km radius of a nuclear explosion: extensive fatalities.
In a radius of 13 km from a nuclear explosion: third-degree burns.
Within a radius of 21 kilometers from the nuclear explosion: numerous injuries.
How to save yourself in the event of the use of nuclear weapons?
Nuclear explosions can cause severe damage and injury from blast, heat and radiation, but you can keep your family safe by knowing what to do and preparing in case they do occur, according to the US government's Reddy website.
A nuclear weapon is a device that uses a nuclear reaction to cause an explosion. Nuclear devices range from a small portable device carried by an individual to a weapon carried by a missile. A nuclear explosion may occur with or without warning of a few minutes.
A nuclear fallout is most dangerous in the first few hours after a detonation when it emits the highest levels of radiation.
Nuclear precipitation is the remaining radioactive material that is pushed into the upper atmosphere after a nuclear explosion, so called because it "falls" from the sky after the explosion and shock wave. This precipitation includes dust and radioactive ash from the explosion of a nuclear weapon.
It takes time for the precipitation to reach ground level, and often more than 15 minutes for areas outside the immediate damage areas of the explosion. This is enough time to be able to prevent significant radiation exposure by following these simple steps:
First: move inward
Get into the nearest building to avoid radiation, in this case brick or concrete buildings.
Remove contaminated clothing and wipe or wash unprotected skin if you are outside after dripping has arrived. Hand sanitizer does not protect against it. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth if possible. Do not use disinfectant wipes on your skin.
Go to the basement or the middle of the building, stay away from exterior walls and ceiling, and try to keep a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and people who are not part of your household.
If possible, wear a mask if you are sheltering with people who are not part of your family, to prevent transmission in the event of an infectious disease, noting that masks should not be worn by children under two years of age and people who have difficulty breathing, who cannot remove masks on their own .
Second: stay inside
Stay indoors for 24 hours unless local authorities give other instructions.
Continue to practice social distancing by wearing a mask and by maintaining at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who are not part of your household.
Third: Follow the latest updates from the authorities
Set any available media such as the radio to get official information, such as when it is safe to go out and where you should go.
Mobile phone, text messaging, TV and Internet services may be down.
Survive during a nuclear explosion
In the event of a warning of an imminent attack, immediately enter the nearest building and stay away from windows. This will help provide protection from blast, heat and radiation from the blast.
If you are outside when an explosion occurs, protect yourself from the explosion behind anything. Lie facedown to protect exposed skin from heat and flying debris. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth if possible. If you are in a car, stop safely and get out of the car.
After the shock wave passes, enter the nearest shelter.
Keep an eye out for updated instructions from emergency response officials. If evacuation is advised, listen for information about routes, shelters, and procedures.
If you have left, do not return until local officials tell you that it is safe to do so.
Survive after a nuclear explosion
If you are outside and then entering a shelter, remove the outer layer of contaminated clothing to remove dripping and radiation from your body, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth if possible.
Bathe or wash with soap and water to remove shedding from any skin or hair that is not covered. If you cannot wash or shower, use a damp cloth to wipe any uncovered skin or hair. Hand sanitizer does not protect against shedding. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth if possible. Use disinfectant wipes on your skin.
It is safe to eat or drink prepackaged foodstuffs. Do not consume food or liquids that have been exposed outside as they may be contaminated with precipitation.
Effects of nuclear weapons on human health
the death.
The bright light from the explosion can cause temporary blindness for less than a minute.
The blast wave may cause death, injury, and damage to structures several miles away from the explosion.
Radiation can damage the cells of the body.
Fire and heat can cause death and burn injuries several miles away.
Is it dangerous to take iodine as a precaution against the effects of a nuclear attack?
Fearing that the Russian war on Ukraine would lead to radioactive contamination, many Europeans rushed to buy iodine tablets, but are these tablets really effective in protecting against nuclear radiation?
Is it dangerous to our health?
In her article published by the French newspaper "Le Figaro", writer Cecile Tibert said that the conflict in Ukraine raised old fears about targeting nuclear power plants or Russia launching a nuclear attack, and this prompted some people to get iodine tablets at all costs, a drug known to be effective in combating The harmful effects of radioactivity.
The newspaper pointed out that the Pharmacists Syndicate has noticed in recent days, “a significant increase in requests for iodine tablets from pharmacies,” while some doctors asserted that taking iodine as a preventive measure is not only useless, but can be dangerous to health.
The writer states that iodine is naturally found in our diet, and is used by the thyroid gland in the neck, which makes two types of hormones that play a very important role in various vital functions such as cellular metabolism, body temperature, heart rate control, digestion, sleep, weight and mood.
It turned out that in the event of an accident in a nuclear facility, radioactive iodine "131", along with cesium "137", is one of the first and main radioactive materials emitted during a nuclear accident, as was the case during the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters.
And the writer quotes Professor Mark Klein, an endocrinologist specializing in Nancy University Hospital, as saying, “In the long term, there is a high risk of developing hypothyroidism, inflammation of the thyroid gland, or thyroid cancer after ingesting or inhaling radioactive iodine,” indicating that the risk of thyroid cancer is significantly higher. Especially in children, and much less so in adults.
The writer indicates that the goal of taking stable iodine tablets (or potassium iodide) is to protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine that spreads in the environment, indicating that in practice the thyroid gland absorbs stable iodine until saturation, as Mark Klein confirms that "If iodine is taken at the right time - that is, in the hours before the radioactive cloud passes - it is 98% effective to counteract the harmful effects of iodine's radioactivity on the thyroid gland."
A drug that should not be taken at random
The writer stresses that despite the strong effectiveness of iodine, it should not be taken randomly because of its unwanted effects, as Professor Klein explains that “one potassium iodide tablet contains 50 milligrams of iodine, while the daily needs of iodine for an adult ranges between 100 and 150 micrograms, Since the dosage states that an adult should take two tablets at a time if the situation requires it, this means that he should take the equivalent of consuming years of iodine in one go.”
The writer points out that it is possible that some people can tolerate this excess of iodine, but in some cases it can disrupt the activity of the thyroid gland and cause either its insufficiency, hyperactivity or inflammation, and according to Klein, “hyperthyroidism is manifested by an acceleration of the heart rate.” anger, sleep disturbances, excessive sweating, tremors or even diarrhea,” he said, adding that “for a person suffering from cardiovascular disease, hyperthyroidism can cause complications that can lead to death.”
Thyroid protection only
Contrary to popular belief, iodine does not provide absolute protection against accidental exposure to radioactivity, as the Nuclear Safety Authority notes, "It is a drug that only protects against thyroid radiation by iodine-131, but it does not protect the rest of the body from other radionuclides (Radionuclides) that can released into the environment, such as caesium-134 or caesium-137."
And the authority continues - according to what the writer quoted - “There are other things that should be done in the event of an accident at a nuclear power plant, and you must take shelter in an airtight building or evacuate residents,” while the writer stresses that in the event of a nuclear attack, thyroid protection will become a problem. minuscule besides other damages.
And an answer to the question: When should I take iodine?
“Stable iodine tablets should be used in the event of an accident, and on the instructions of the authorities,” the author quotes the website of the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety as saying. “To be effective, iodine should ideally be taken within a few hours before the passage of radioactive particles and gases, And if you can't do that within 6 to 12 hours of the time the particles pass."
The author concluded that it is not recommended to take iodine to avoid the effects of a possible nuclear accident.
In the event of a nuclear attack, where do you find a shelter that protects you?
In a report in the French website Deavita, writer Paul Mano pointed out that the safest place in times of nuclear disasters is to stay under water, concluding that submarines in these conditions are an invaluable haven.
In the same context, the site mentioned that there are a lot of shelters on the French coast that the Germans built during World War II to protect against allied air attacks, and indicated that they can be maintained and modernized to protect against a nuclear cloud.
Old mines are also in these cases a place that can help in surviving in times of nuclear attacks, the site says.