How to save yourself from a “dirty bomb”, a nuclear attack or an accident at a nuclear power plant

russia suffers defeats on the battlefield, and therefore its leadership resorts to blackmail in its usual manner. This time – nuclear. The use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine is considered possible, but the main purpose of these threats is to scare Ukrainians and the world and force us to make concessions, and our partners to weaken their support for Ukraine.

However, this intimidation will not have the consequences expected by russia. At the same time, Ukrainians must have a plan of action in case of any emergency situations: the use of nuclear weapons, “ a dirty bomb” or in the event of an accident at a nuclear power plant.

Nuclear weapons are weapons of mass destruction. Nuclear charges can be placed on various types of missiles, torpedoes, bombs and artillery shells, with which russia constantly fires at our territory. It is possible to understand that it was a nuclear weapon only directly after the explosion and obtaining data on the radioactive contamination of the territory.

A radiological dispersal device, or, as it is also called, a “dirty bomb”, is actually an explosive with radioactive material. During detonation, radioactive substances are spread by an explosive wave.

The recommendations were actualized based on the experience and instructions of Ukraine after the accident at the Chernobyl NPP (1986) by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security together with the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety and based on information from open sources: the State Emergency Service, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Patrol Police of Ukraine.

In the case of using nuclear weapons or a “dirty bomb” or an explosion at a nuclear power plant, the main rule remains unchanged: when you hear the siren, go to the shelter.

Turn on the radio, television or use the Internet to receive a notification about the corresponding threat and about further actions.

Operational information should be reported by the State Emergency Service, the General Staff, the police or local authorities on the pages of their official websites or social media or in official Viber or Telegram channels. If the Internet connection is unstable, you can use lightweight versions of social media (Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite).

However, there is a high probability that the Internet and communication means will not work at all in the zone affected by nuclear weapons, and there will be no electricity supply. Therefore, make sure you have a battery-powered radio in advance. It may be the only means of communication in an emergency.

If a nuclear explosion caught you on the street

When you notice a flash in the sky (or its reflection from surfaces), by no means look in that direction. This can cause corneal burns, flash blindness, and eye burns.

Lie down on the ground. Try to find an indention or ledge within seconds to hide from the shock wave and debris.

Try to cover all exposed parts of the body: lie with your feet in the direction of the explosion, face down, put your hands under you to protect them from burns and injuries.

If possible, cover your ears with headphones — this is protection against barotrauma.

Cover your mouth and nose with a mask, cloth or handkerchief, and breath through them. However, these improvised means can’t completely protect against internal exposure. Therefore, it is important to get to the shelter as fast as possible.

Run to the shelter as soon as the blast wave from the use of nuclear weapons has passed.

It is necessary to run to the shelter, considering the direction of the wind. If it is blowing from the epicenter of the explosion, move perpendicular (left or right) to the direction of the wind. Otherwise, move against the wind.

The main criteria for finding a shelter is minute availability. If there is no specially equipped shelter nearby, the basement or the center of a large concrete building with a minimum number of windows and doors will be the best. Look at the illustration to see the safest areas of the building to hide in the event of the attack.

Before entering the shelter, take off the top layer of clothing. This can eliminate up to 90% of radioactive contamination and reduce the amount of time you are exposed to radiation. To prevent dispersal of radioactive dust, be very careful, try to avoid skin contact with contaminated clothing. Place it in a plastic bag or airtight container. The best option would be to change clothes completely and carry out decontamination as soon as possible (see point 11).

Make sure that the room you are using as a shelter doesn’t get air from the outside. Close all windows, doors, ventilations, turn off the air conditioner and heater. If possible, move to a room without windows.

Distance yourself from other people in the room, don’t touch them. You can cause radioactive contamination of each other

Don’t eat or touch anything that may have been radioactively contaminated.

Carry out decontamination – measures to clean the body, premises, surfaces and objects with which you come in contact from radiation contamination.

Tap water can be used to wash off radioactive contamination from the skin and surfaces, if there were no official messages prohibiting its use!

It is recommended to take a cool shower using detergents. Avoid strong skin friction: this can lead to damage and entry of radionuclides into the body.

If showering is not possible, wash all exposed skin, especially hands and face. Use soap and plenty of water. Do not rub the skin in places where there are scratches or wounds to prevent radionuclides from entering the body. If you don’t have access to water at all, use a wet wipe, a clean wet cloth, or a wet paper towel. Thoroughly wipe all exposed skin.

Wipe surfaces and objects with a damp cloth or napkin. This must be done necessarily, regardless of which space you use as a shelter.

If possible, wear clean, tight clothing that is as closed as possible, that could not be exposed to radioactive contamination.

Find a source of information (radio, TV, internet). To avoid missing instructions, do not turn off the radio or other means of communication.

Stay in shelter for 24 hours unless authorities give other instructions to move or evacuate.

If the explosion caught you indoors

Make sure that no air enters the room. Close all windows, doors, ventilations, turn off the air conditioner and heater. If possible, move to a room without windows.

Remain in shelter for 24 hours unless authorities give other instructions to move or evacuate. To avoid missing instructions, don’t turn off the radio or other means of communication.

Don’t eat or touch anything that may have been radioactively contaminated.

If your family members were in another shelter at the time of the nuclear attack, they must remain there until permission is given to leave.

Keep your pets inside the shelter.

Don’t consume tap water until you receive an appropriate notification about its safety.

If the explosion caught you in the way

When you notice a flash in the sky (or its reflection from surfaces), by no means look in that direction. This can cause corneal burns, flash blindness, and eye burns

Stop the car on a safe side of the road.

Close all windows, doors, hatches and any openings, block the flow of air from the outside.

Take a protective pose (cover your head with your hands and lower your elbows to your knees).

If possible, cover your ears with headphones — this is protection against barotrauma.

Cover your mouth and nose with a mask, cloth or handkerchief, and breathe through them until you are sheltered: this should protect you from radionuclides entering the body.

After the explosion, it is necessary to immediately find shelter. The main criteria is minute availability. If there is no specially equipped shelter nearby, the basement or the center of a large concrete building with a minimum number of windows and doors will be the best.

If your child is at school or kindergarten during a nuclear explosion

If your child was in an educational institution at the time of the nuclear explosion, he must remain there in a shelter with the rest of the children.

Even if the school or kindergarten is five minutes away from the house, there is no need to leave the shelter and pick up the child. This will harm you, because outside you can be exposed to radiation, your child, as well as other children and teachers or educators who are in the shelter of the school or kindergarten.

According to safety standards, shelters must be pressurized from the inside to prevent harmful substances from entering. Parents who come from the street can carry radioactive dust on their clothes, or it can get into the room where the children are hiding with the air.

So going outside means putting not only yourself at risk, but also children and staff. In case of an emissions accident or nuclear explosion, any building is safer than the street.

In order to be sure that the school or kindergarten is ready for any scenario, we recommend that you make sure in advance that the shelter there will protect your child from radiation in case of a nuclear explosion. And also you have to make sure that your child is ready for such a scenario.

For this you need:

Make sure that the teachers (educators) and the management of the school or kindergarten have the plan of action in case of a nuclear explosion. They should act according to the general rules of behavior in such an emergency situation. The rules are here.

If the management of the institution has not informed you about this, you must agree in advance with other parents and the teacher that in case of a nuclear explosion, the doors of the shelter where the children are located will not be opened until permission has been obtained from the authorities.

This means that it will be impossible to come and take the child from there until there are official announcements that the threat has gone. Explain to them that extra opening of the shelter door and admission of parents who came from the street in there will harm the children.

Make sure that the shelter is adapted for staying there under conditions of nuclear danger. Does the school administration have relevant documents, acts of inspection by the controlling authorities, which indicate that the shelter is suitable. In addition, there is an act of the State Emergency Service that the premises are in a satisfactory sanitary and fireproof condition.

Some facilities have special anti-radiation shelters or more reliable shelters – hermetic ones. However, in the absence of such, it is allowed to stay in the simplest shelters, but in which the following requirements are met (you can check their compliance yourself):

It is located in the basement (underground) room, on the basement or on the first floor (in the condition that it is provided with enclosing building structures), in the main building of the school or no further than 100 meters from it. There should be no tanks with dangerous chemical, flammable, combustible and explosive substances, water supply and sewage mains nearby:
The shelter is equipped with electricity, artificial lighting, water supply and sewage systems. In case of their absence, there must be premises for the installation of portable tanks;
There should be no holes in the walls except for doors. If there are others, they should be covered with bags of sand or soil, concrete blocks or bricks;
The shelter must have at least two evacuation exits. For shelters with a capacity of up to 50 people, one exit is allowed:
Water, sewage or other mains should not pass through the shelter;
Entrances must be closed by reinforced doors made of non-combustible materials (metal or wooden, lined with iron) or protective screens (stone, brick, reinforced concrete) to a height of at least 1.7 m;
There must be ventilation in the shelter;
Shelter capacity – at least 1 meter per person.

Since the shelter must be designed for children to stay there at least 48 hours, check if there is a list of things that the administration of the educational institution must provide:

places for sitting (lying down): chairs, benches or beds, sports mats, caremats;
warm blankets or sleeping bags;
plastic bags;
reinforced tape for sealing the room;
rags and wet wipes;
water for cleaning the body, objects, and surfaces from radiation dust;
drinking water, for one person 2 liters per day
stock of canned food and freeze-dried food;
food containers;
tanks for sewage that close tightly (for unsewered buildings and structures);
backup artificial lightning (electric lanterns, candles, kerosene lamps, etc.);
fire extinguishers;
a first-aid kit with means of providing emergency medical aid;
a supply of tableted potassium iodide for the maximum planned number of children and staff in the shelter: babies from birth to 1 month – 16 mg per person, children (from 1 month to 3 years) – 32 mg, children (from 3 to 12 years) – 62.5 mg per person, adolescents (from 12 to 18 years old), pregnant women, nursing mothers and adults (up to 40 years old) – 125 mg per person, adults over 40 years old usually don’t need iodine prophylaxis. The rules of iodine prophylaxis are here.
FFP2 and FFP3 respirators based on the maximum number of children that the shelter can accommodate;
means of communication and notification (telephone, battery-powered radio receiver with XX/X band in case of lack of communication and power, Internet, installation of WI-FI devices is recommended);
tools (bayonet and scoop shovels, crowbars, axes, saws, hacksaws, etc.).

If not all things are present, with other parents make sure to control that they are bought or find them and bring them by yourself.

Pack an emergency backpack for your child, it should contain: a bottle of clean water; nutritional bars or snacks in sealed packages; a note from the parents indicating the child’s full name, contact details of the parents and close relatives (names, telephone numbers, addresses); telephone (if possible), charger and power bank; an individual set of necessary medicines, respirators ( a supply for several days); a set of changeable underwear and clothes; a sleeping bag if the institution doesn’t provide them; a favorite toy or thing. Other things according to the age of the child (diapers, baby food).

Important! In order not to load the child with heavy things every time he goes to school or kindergarten, agree with the administration or teacher (educator) that these things are stored in the institution, but in quick access, so that they can be quickly taken in case of an air raid siren.

Be sure to notify the medical worker of the school or kindergarten, teachers (educators) or the administration if your child has a thyroid disorder or an allergy to potassium iodide! In the shelter they may need iodine prophylaxis, but only after the official indication of its need by the State Emergency Service or authorities!

Have a conversation with the child that in the event of a nuclear threat, he will stay in a shelter with other children for a certain time. Don’t intimidate the child, but don’t sugarcoat the event. Explain that this is important in order to wait out the danger. Reassure the child that as soon as the danger is over, your whole family will be together again.

Проговоріть з дитиною, що в разі ядерної загрози вона певний час залишатиметься в укритті з іншими дітьми. Не залякуйте дитину, але й не прикрашайте події. Поясніть, це важливо для того, аби перечекати небезпеку. Запевніть її, що як тільки небезпека мине, уся ваша родина знову буде разом.

It is also important to discuss this scenario with all members of your family.

If you aren’t sure about your child’s safety in the shelter of an educational institution in case of a nuclear explosion, then the decision whether your child will study offline while there is such a threat is at your own discretion.

Depending on the situation, local self-government bodies or the institution’s administration may decide to temporarily stop full-time education at your school.

First aid to a victim of a nuclear weapon

When providing assistance to the victim, it is first necessary to remove radioactive substances from his clothes (undress or ask him to undress) and treat the skin with warm water and soap.

Removing clothes, cleaning the skin, wounds, and body holes is necessary to prevent radionuclides from entering the body and reducing the dose of exposure to the victim and others.

When providing assistance to the victim, the available personal protection should be used as much as possible: gloves, disposable coveralls, and respirators. After providing assistance to the victim, carry out decontamination for yourself.

Cleansing wounds. If a person received any injuries during the use of nuclear weapons, radioactive substances can enter the body through them. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out the following procedure:

cover the skin around open wounds with waterproof bandages to limit the spread of radioactive contamination to other areas of the body.
Carefully wash the wounds with plenty of water or physiological solution.

Ear and nose cleaning. Gently wipe the ears and nose with a moistened sterile cotton-tipped applicator.

Treatment of the oral cavity and eyes. If radioactive substances enter the mouth, one should immediately brush the teeth with toothpaste and rinse the mouth with a 3% solution of citric acid. If the nostrils are affected, it is advisable to rinse the throat with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide. And the eyes must be carefully washed with a large amount of physiological solution or water.

Hair cleaning. Ask the affected person to wash their hair with warm water and mild soap or shampoo. The water used to wash hair can’t be used to wash other parts of the body. Avoid getting contaminated sewage into your eyes, ears, nose or mouth. Dry your hair with clean towels.

Transportation of the victim. Wrap contaminated areas or the entire victim in two layers of sheets. Monitor the victim’s body temperature. After transportation, the medical personnel who receive the victim must carry out an inspection and decontamination of the vehicle and equipment and utilize all contaminated items.

Symptoms of radiation exposure

The primary radiation reaction lasts up to 3 days after affection.

Its manifestations are: irritability, general weakness, nausea, vomiting, headache, increased body temperature, excitation, and then suppression of mental activity.

There is no latent period in severe forms. It usually lasts from 3 days to a year. The victim has an improvement in his well-being, but he experiences general weakness, decreased appetite, problems with defecation, and sometimes sleep disturbances.

The onset of the disease occurs two weeks after the lesion. Then individually. The patient may have the following symptoms: headache, insomnia, nausea, general weakness, gastrointestinal disorders with severe abdominal pain, body temperature up to 38-40 ℃, multiple point hemorrhages on the skin and mucous membranes, bleeding of internal organs (pulmonary, gastrointestinal, renal), hair loss in the second-third week, infectious complications (angina, pneumonia, lung abscess and general blood infection – sepsis).

Action plan in case of a radiation accident at a nuclear power plant in your region

The occupiers are constantly creating the threat of radiation accidents at Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Therefore, get acquainted with the action plan for the public in the event of a radiation accident at the nuclear power plant.

When you hear an emergency alarm, immediately turn on the radio, TV or Internet and listen to the message. This information should be reported by the State Emergency Service, the army, the police or local authorities on the official pages of their websites or social media or in the official channels on Viber, Facebook or Telegram.

There is a high probability that the Internet and communication tools will not work at all in the affected area, and there will be no electricity supply. Therefore, make sure in advance that you have a battery-powered radio. It may be the only means of communication in an emergency.

If there is a nuclear power plant in your area and there is an accident, stay indoors or go inside immediately if you are outside. The best is in a shelter or a basement. Radioactive material settles on the outside of the building, so it is necessary to stay as far as possible from the walls and roof.

Quickly put on a respirator or cotton-gauze bandage; if there are none, cover your nose and mouth with a towel, handkerchief or scarf.

Close and block all windows, doors and ventilation openings in the room and don’t approach them unless necessary; turn off the air conditioner and heaters.

In advance, take care of the supply of water in airtight containers so that it will be enough for several days. Wrap the food in plastic sheeting and put it in the fridge or cupboard.

Watch for further messages from the State Emergency Service, Army, Police or local authorities. They will inform about the need for iodine prophylaxis, evacuation and safety rules. Useful applications for informing about emergency situations: “Air Alarm” (developer – Ministry of Digital, download for Android, for IOS), “e Tryvoga” (developed by Ukrainian IT volunteers in Poland, download for Android, for IOS), “Kyiv Digital” (only for residents of the capital, download for Android, for IOS)

Carry out iodine prophylaxis.

Iodine prophylaxis. Recommendations

Important! You can only conduct iodine prophylaxis after an official notification about its necessity.

The need to take the drug stable iodine (potassium iodine) can be both after an accident at a nuclear power plant and after a nuclear explosion. But it is justified only when the radiation is caused by radioiodine. In other cases (in particular when using “dirty bombs”), taking iodine preparations is prohibited and can cause irreparable damage to the body. Adults over 40 or people with thyroid dysfunction usually don’t need iodine prophylaxis.

Iodine prophylaxis consists in a single intake of tableted potassium iodide. The second dose is prescribed in case of prolonged (more than 24 hours) or repeated exposure and if the person consumed contaminated food or water.

Dosage of potassium iodide (pills):

babies from birth to 1 month – 16 mg

children (from 3 to 12 years) – 62.5 mg

adolescents (from 12 to 18 years old), pregnant women, nursing mothers and adults (up to 40 years old) – 125 mg

What should you do if you need to leave the shelter during a radiation accident?

You can leave the shelter only after the official permission of the State Emergency Service, executive authorities or other official institutions.

Use a respirator, put on as closed and dense clothing as possible, raincoat, rubber shoes and gloves.

Don’t undress outside, don’t sit on the ground, don’t swim in open water, don’t collect mushrooms or wild berries, don’t smoke.

After returning home, remove the top layer of clothing. This can remove up to 90% of radioactive contamination and reduce the amount of time you are exposed to radiation. To prevent dispersal of radioactive dust, be very careful when removing clothing, try to avoid skin contact with contaminated clothing. Place clothes in a plastic bag or airtight container and keep away from people and pets.

If possible, carry out decontamination using the same steps as for decontamination in the event of a nuclear explosion.

Put on clean, as closed and tight clothes as possible.

How to safely eat and drink water during a radiation accident or after a nuclear attack?

Food that has not been in contact with radioactive substances is safe to eat: food in sealed containers (cans, bottles, boxes, etc.) and food in the fridge or freezer.

Wipe food containers with a wet cloth or clean towel before opening. Also, wipe tables and dishes with a wet cloth or clean towel before using. Wipe down pet bowls and mats. Put the rags you used to clean the dishes and surfaces in a bag or plastic box that is sealed tightly. Preferably, label them with a radiation warning and keep them out of the reach of children or pets.

Don’t collect or consume food from your garden, vegetable garden or food that has been outside until you have received official notification that it is safe to do so.

Only bottled water is safe to drink until tap water is tested for contamination. Boiling doesn’t get rid of radioactive substances. You should have bottled water that you have stocked up on in advance. The State Emergency Service or executive authorities will report on the safety of tap water.

How to prepare for a radiation accident

Here are some rules on how to prepare for an emergency or evacuation from a dangerous area.

In advance, take care of the supply of water in airtight containers so that it would be enough for several days. Tips for this in the “How to prepare a water supply” section.

Take care of the supply of food in case of an emergency. Read the tips in the section “What products to stock up for home and emergency suitcase”

Have an emergency suitcase ready. What to put in it, read here

Make sure that you are in touch and have access to information when an emergency occurs. Instructions are here.

Поради, як підготуватись до ядерної небезпеки дивіться також у відео:

Use of “dirty bombs”: what is the danger and how to act

The use of “dirty bombs” by the russians during the war should not be ruled out. These bombs are also called “weapons of terrorists”. Since such bombs are a tool of intimidation, they can be used in areas where there no active hostilities and there is a high population density.

A “dirty bomb” is a mixture of explosives, such as dynamite, and radioactive substances. Another name for such a bomb is a radiological dispersal device (RDD).

It shouldn’t be confused with nuclear weapons. A “dirty bomb” can’t create a nuclear explosion like a nuclear weapon, although it can spread radioactive contamination in relatively small amounts and over limited distances. The main danger of “dirty bombs” is the explosion itself, which can kill or injure people.

First of all, those who were in the epicenter of the explosion can be exposed to radiation. At greater distances from the explosion site, there is a danger only if people inhale dust, eat contaminated food or drink contaminated water.

Therefore, the rules of rescue in the event of a “dirty bomb” use are the same as during a radiation accident at a nuclear power plant: go to the shelter, stay in the shelter, listen to the further instructions from the authorities, State Emergency Service of Ukraine or the police. More details here.

The instruction was developed together with the State Nuclear Regulation Inspection of Ukraine.

Important information for the media, bloggers and all citizens who photograph or write about war and the army

What is categorically prohibited to be covered by the mass media during wartime:

names of bases and subdivisions, as well as their locations
the number of soldiers in bases and units
the number of weapons and equipment, their condition and place of storage
conditional marks of objects

Any information about:

operations carried out or planned
system of protection and defense of military units
available military protection such as: weapons and equipment(except visible or obviously expressed)
procedure for engaging forces (military) and facilities (weapons)
intelligence gathering
movement and deployment of troops (names, numbers, routes)
military units and their tactics, methods of action
unique operations and their execution methods
the effectiveness of the enemy’s electronic warfare
postponed or canceled operations
missing or crashed aircraft, ship and search and rescue operations
plans for the security of our troops (disinformation, camouflage, countermeasures)
informational and psychological operations carried out or planned
propaganda or justification of russia’s large-scale armed aggression against Ukraine.

Do not post on social media:

consequences of hits by enemy’s missiles or projectiles or moments of their flight in the sky. By doing so you will help the enemy to adjust the fire.
time and place of “hits” (neither in publications nor in comments)
information about the work of the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces
a photo showing numbers, special markings and markings on destroyed or downed enemy equipment.
unverified information about victims or dead.

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