Unless you are in your bunker, you won't be dodging gamma but every little protection helps.
Alpha particles can be stopped by a sheet of paper but if you ingest dust with apha emitting debris in it you are in trouble so having FFP3 masks handy is essential.
Also, I would add a disposable paper suit to your vehicles and get home bags then follow the following advice:
https://naru.org.uk/remove-remove-remov ... d-by-naru/
Surviving a nuclear attack.
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Jerseyspud
- Posts: 398
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 5:16 pm
Re: Surviving a nuclear attack.
Only just seen this 
Where radiation is concerned unless you have a concrete bunker then you won't stop gamma. However on the plus side, gamma is least ionising.
Your main issue with fallout is the alpha and beta particles. Alpha radiation is stopped by a sheet of paper, so breath itt in and it's not getting back out.
Beta is stopped by a sheet of aluminium.
It's the dust and particles that are the main issue with fallout so preventing those getting into your home.
Half life is another big one, hence why saying to stay in for 2 weeks as alot of the heavier radioactive elements will be half the strength. For example, radioactive iodine has a half life of 8 days.
With regards to radioactive particles in water, you can use an earth filter. This involves using clay preferably or soil. Add its to the container of your water (this would obv be for emergencies after the 2 weeks etc). Mix it in and then wait for the earth or clay to settle on the bottom. Then skim the water from the top and boil/purify as you would normally
Another random knowledge from my brain
Ironically I've just taught year 10 about radioactive rocks and geigar counters this week
Where radiation is concerned unless you have a concrete bunker then you won't stop gamma. However on the plus side, gamma is least ionising.
Your main issue with fallout is the alpha and beta particles. Alpha radiation is stopped by a sheet of paper, so breath itt in and it's not getting back out.
Beta is stopped by a sheet of aluminium.
It's the dust and particles that are the main issue with fallout so preventing those getting into your home.
Half life is another big one, hence why saying to stay in for 2 weeks as alot of the heavier radioactive elements will be half the strength. For example, radioactive iodine has a half life of 8 days.
With regards to radioactive particles in water, you can use an earth filter. This involves using clay preferably or soil. Add its to the container of your water (this would obv be for emergencies after the 2 weeks etc). Mix it in and then wait for the earth or clay to settle on the bottom. Then skim the water from the top and boil/purify as you would normally
Another random knowledge from my brain
Ironically I've just taught year 10 about radioactive rocks and geigar counters this week
when it comes to catastrophic events, we never know when the day before is the day before. So we prepare for tomorrow
Prepping on a small island
Prepping on a small island
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Jerseyspud
- Posts: 398
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 5:16 pm
Re: Surviving a nuclear attack.
Regarding going out afterwards. Have a decontamination room in your house/shelter. Strip completely and bag clothes. Wash your entire body. Soap will wash particles off.
Food grown outside will be dodgy but not much can be done really
Food grown outside will be dodgy but not much can be done really
when it comes to catastrophic events, we never know when the day before is the day before. So we prepare for tomorrow
Prepping on a small island
Prepping on a small island
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Jerseyspud
- Posts: 398
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 5:16 pm
Re: Surviving a nuclear attack.
Also don't buy second hand or ex military geigar counters
They are ex for a reason
They are ex for a reason
when it comes to catastrophic events, we never know when the day before is the day before. So we prepare for tomorrow
Prepping on a small island
Prepping on a small island
Re: Surviving a nuclear attack.
JerseySpuds comments are spot on.
I had a summer job at the old Atomic Energy Authority in the eighties. Day 1 training stated "If the sirens go when you are on your way home, you should go home, put all your clothes into a bin bag and then shower 3 times, washing everything. Then wait for instructions on what to do next...."
Inhaling or swallowing dust is probably the most dangerous thing and sensible precaustions will reduce this risk. Big blasts of gamma or neutron radiation are harder to protect from without concrete/lead shielding but are usually short lived. It is the cumulative effect that does the damage so a small amount of low level dust ticking away for years internally can be as damaging as a short but stronger blast of gamma.
I had a summer job at the old Atomic Energy Authority in the eighties. Day 1 training stated "If the sirens go when you are on your way home, you should go home, put all your clothes into a bin bag and then shower 3 times, washing everything. Then wait for instructions on what to do next...."
Inhaling or swallowing dust is probably the most dangerous thing and sensible precaustions will reduce this risk. Big blasts of gamma or neutron radiation are harder to protect from without concrete/lead shielding but are usually short lived. It is the cumulative effect that does the damage so a small amount of low level dust ticking away for years internally can be as damaging as a short but stronger blast of gamma.
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PreppingPingu
- Posts: 953
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:10 pm
- Location: Surrey/Hampshire
Re: Surviving a nuclear attack.
Just watched the "protect and survive" one. From the early 70's by the looks of it? There was something "Hitch Hikers guide to the galaxy" about the logo animation that was repeated through out and the music!
Does make you think though. I did find myself looking at my home today, thinking where would be the safest spot indoors in case of a nuclear event. Though being 55km or there abouts as the crow flies from central London and pretty much the same from Wiltshire's Land Command headquarters, and living as close to Aldershot, "Home of the British Army" as I do, *shrug* - well, I'm not going to loose sleep over any statistical possibilities. As other's have said, it is more the future fuel and economic crisis that I am trying to cover atm. That is something I can prep for to a degree. However I have now registered nuclear in my brain - registered, researched and now filed away!
Does make you think though. I did find myself looking at my home today, thinking where would be the safest spot indoors in case of a nuclear event. Though being 55km or there abouts as the crow flies from central London and pretty much the same from Wiltshire's Land Command headquarters, and living as close to Aldershot, "Home of the British Army" as I do, *shrug* - well, I'm not going to loose sleep over any statistical possibilities. As other's have said, it is more the future fuel and economic crisis that I am trying to cover atm. That is something I can prep for to a degree. However I have now registered nuclear in my brain - registered, researched and now filed away!
"Today is the tomorrow that you worrried about yesterday" - unknown
"Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast" - Red Dwarf
(Area 3)
"Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast" - Red Dwarf
(Area 3)
Re: Surviving a nuclear attack.
Cool. You are the go to person for radiation monitor info....Jerseyspud wrote: ↑Fri Mar 04, 2022 9:31 pm Only just seen this
Where radiation is concerned unless you have a concrete bunker then you won't stop gamma. However on the plus side, gamma is least ionising.
Your main issue with fallout is the alpha and beta particles. Alpha radiation is stopped by a sheet of paper, so breath itt in and it's not getting back out.
Beta is stopped by a sheet of aluminium.
It's the dust and particles that are the main issue with fallout so preventing those getting into your home.
Half life is another big one, hence why saying to stay in for 2 weeks as alot of the heavier radioactive elements will be half the strength. For example, radioactive iodine has a half life of 8 days.
With regards to radioactive particles in water, you can use an earth filter. This involves using clay preferably or soil. Add its to the container of your water (this would obv be for emergencies after the 2 weeks etc). Mix it in and then wait for the earth or clay to settle on the bottom. Then skim the water from the top and boil/purify as you would normally
Another random knowledge from my brain
Ironically I've just taught year 10 about radioactive rocks and geigar counters this week
I THOUGHT I had a basic understanding of radiation. HUGE gamma burst on detonation ( like super microwave cooker) and then fallout that would rain down some mildly radioactive elements (Cesium, Strontium, Iodine?) that would sit around ejecting weak alpha radiation for a few weeks. Ingest or breathe in said dust and suffer a horrid death as it irradiates you from your inside Like Litvinenko . Keep the dust outside your shelter and it is depleted after a few weeks so we can emerge ( unless we have cobalt bombs !)
But what limited info I could find this week suggests that the fallout dust is also emitting gamma rays. As you say. Big difference in radiation absorption between gamma and alpha. Half life of fallout dust seems to be a glossed over issue.
I/we need to research more.
Graceful Degradation! Prepping's objective summed up in two words. Turning Disaster into Mild Inconvenience by the power of fore-thought
Not Feeling Optimistic. Let me be wrong
Not Feeling Optimistic. Let me be wrong
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Jerseyspud
- Posts: 398
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 5:16 pm
Re: Surviving a nuclear attack.
I'm not an expert it's just radioactives is a fascination of mine. I am also very lucky with my job that I see natural radiation in action and what stops it
Thing is, we have alot of radiation in nature itself. The rocks I use at work are from Cornwall, arizona and Canada. All are beta sources. On the gm counter they look and sound terrifying and year 10 Re generally a bit
I'm there with gloves on with rocks in a bag that are radioactive.
I work on the basis I can't do anything about gamma. As long as I'm inside and far enough away from it not to get an instant lethal dose I can't do anything.
I can stop alpha just by being inside. Duct tape over the window vents to stop dust getting in.
Beta is stopped by 5mm glass or plastic. So as long as the vents, cat flaps, anything that let's dust in is sealed you're safe.
Thing is, we have alot of radiation in nature itself. The rocks I use at work are from Cornwall, arizona and Canada. All are beta sources. On the gm counter they look and sound terrifying and year 10 Re generally a bit
I'm there with gloves on with rocks in a bag that are radioactive.I work on the basis I can't do anything about gamma. As long as I'm inside and far enough away from it not to get an instant lethal dose I can't do anything.
I can stop alpha just by being inside. Duct tape over the window vents to stop dust getting in.
Beta is stopped by 5mm glass or plastic. So as long as the vents, cat flaps, anything that let's dust in is sealed you're safe.
when it comes to catastrophic events, we never know when the day before is the day before. So we prepare for tomorrow
Prepping on a small island
Prepping on a small island
Re: Surviving a nuclear attack.
I had no idea of all this! Thanks jerseyspud.Jerseyspud wrote: ↑Sat Mar 05, 2022 6:35 am I work on the basis I can't do anything about gamma. As long as I'm inside and far enough away from it not to get an instant lethal dose I can't do anything.
I can stop alpha just by being inside. Duct tape over the window vents to stop dust getting in.
Beta is stopped by 5mm glass or plastic. So as long as the vents, cat flaps, anything that let's dust in is sealed you're safe.
I'm wondering abut my chimney - I mean, I could tape a black plastic garden waste bag over it, that's true, so most of the dust couldn't get as per the beta advice you give. But the gamma whatever-it-is is then very near me, is that right?
Jehosophat! That this question would ever be anything other than interested intellectual query ...