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I put this list together to help advise the public. I would appreciate
your comments. I tried to keep it simple and practical. Susan McElrath Surviving a
Dirty Bomb These
instructions are intended for uninjured or mildly injured persons in the
vicinity of a so-called dirty bomb,
a conventional weapon which also disperses relatively common radioactive
materials. Do not panic. A dirty bomb is thousands of times less dangerous than a
nuclear weapon like they type used in Take a shower. After the initial shock is over and you have gotten away
from the blast scene, remove your clothes and take a shower. Place discarded
clothing in a garbage bag. Chances are the on-scene responders will provide
some sort of shower facility. Do not retrieve vehicles or personal effects that are near the
blast scene, especially if they are coated with visible dust from the blast. Do not eat or drink anything that was near the scene, especially items
which are not packaged. (Fresh fruits, water from open containers, etc.) Don’t waste time looking for iodine pills. These are probably
not useful for the type of radioactive material you have perhaps been exposed
to. Do not flood the emergency room or your doctor’s office with non-emergency
calls or visits. The possibility that you may have been exposed to some
radioactive material is not an emergency in light of the overall situation.
After the situation calms down a bit, you will probably want to discuss with a
doctor the risks to your health caused by any radioactive material exposure.
There is a good chance you will be afforded the opportunity to participate in
long-term health monitoring. Keep in touch with reliable media sources for further information. Susan McElrath |