Saving Lives After a Nuclear Detonation

A presentation by Brooke Buddemeier, a Certified Health Physicist at Lawrence Livermore who is both a very knowledgeable scientist and an excellent speaker (with great presentation graphics), on the above topic. Using the archetypical 10 kt surface burst explosion in downtown Washington DC, he explains the consequences of and responses to such an event. The main point is that the first few minutes are the most critical for saving thousands of lives. The first sign is of course the bright flash, followed almost immediately by a "thump". This is from the shock wave, not to be confused with the blast wave that arrives several seconds or a couple of minutes later. If outdoors, lie down prone with feet toward the blast and cover your head with your hands. Then, once the blast wave passes, get inside the nearest structurally intact building. Go to the center of the building and into the basement if there is one. For a surface 10 kt detonation there is severe damage within half a mile (maximum pressure will be over 8 psi). The next zone of moderate damage extends out to a mile. There will be more survivors than fatalities in this zone, particularly if they get inside. (N.B. If indoors when the flash occurs, get away from the windows. At 1 to 3 miles from the device's hypocenter most will be uninjured aside from those impacted by flying glass and other objects. There will be temporary flash blindness lasting from 15 seconds to 1 minute for those who look at the fireball. If you're on the road, or walking near it, this could be bad. Flash blindness can occur out to 10 miles, or several miles farther if at night. But the greatest preventable danger will be from radioactive fallout. This is why it is imperative to get inside (same as in case of a tornado; get inside and head for the basement) and remain there for 12-24 hours. An AM/FM radio is important; towers outside the blast wave range will survive, and important safety instructions will be given. The higher the burst, the less the fallout (which is simply a mixture of dirt and debris from the ground surface with radioactive fission products). Note that increasing the yield of the bomb 10 times only doubles the range to effect. If you are contaminated by fallout, brush it off. Fallout is usually dry and dusty, not wet and sticky. The emitted radiation will lose half its intensity in the first hour, and 80% within the first day. Hence even a relatively poor shelter (e.g. one story home) can significantly decrease fatalities by 50% or more. The presentation lasts less than 25 minutes (including Q&A). Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EueJrCJ0CcU&feature=youtu.be