The explosion of a nuclear mine, depending on the rated power, causes catastrophic destruction within a radius of one to ten kilometers from the place of initiation. Energies of monstrous magnitudes are raging at the epicenter of the explosion: the temperature rises to several hundred thousand degrees, the pressure increases abruptly from five to eight times, then sharply drops below atmospheric pressure. It is impossible to survive in the epicenter even in a fortified shelter: surge seismic activity leads to the instantaneous collapse of any existing cavities located closer than two kilometers from the surface of the earth.
It is possible to survive in the zone of secondary damage. At a distance of more than ten kilometers from the site of the explosion, the increase in temperature is insignificant, but there are other damaging factors that change over time. When a nuclear strike alert is triggered, take cover as quickly as possible. In the ideal case, it will be a subway or a specialized bomb shelter. Less reliable shelters include basements and concrete fortifications located below ground level. At the time of the explosion, a bright flash is observed in the sky, which human eye still able to see. In a few seconds, the brightness of the light grows to a light emission of monstrous power.
light emission
If there are no suitable fortifications around, you should hide behind a ledge of high-density opaque material as quickly as possible. Concrete barriers, large stones, walls of buildings will work great. If there is nothing of the kind, you should be at least 1-1.5 meters below ground level. intensive light emission lasts from 30 to 80 seconds, heating objects up to several hundred degrees, so the presence of a person in an open space within a radius of up to 30 kilometers from the explosion is deadly. The action of light radiation causes widespread fires and melting, partially destroys buildings.penetrating radiation
After 40 seconds after initiation, hard ionizing radiation acts, which can cause death almost instantly. The effect of radiation falls on the stage of residual glow. Stone walls, concrete ceilings and the thickness of the soil can protect against the effects of penetrating radiation, but you need to wait until the end of the active phase of the explosion.shock wave
One minute after the initiation of the nuclear charge, the supersonic shock wave goes beyond the epicenter and loses speed as it propagates. reliable shelter from shock wave deep cellars and wells remain, in their absence, you can hide in the folds of the terrain. On the open area the wave is capable of lifting up to two meters of soil into the air.radiation pollution
After the explosion, it is necessary to leave the affected area as soon as possible. After 6-10 hours, the primary precipitation of suspended particles of decomposition products occurs on the surface. You should leave against the wind if it is directed to the epicenter of the explosion or to one of the sides. If the wind blows from the epicenter, you should leave the affected area perpendicular to the direction of the air flow.Everyone is concerned about the growing number nuclear weapons, and it's not hard to see why. It must be honestly said that if even one nuclear bomb is dropped on your city, it is highly unlikely that you will survive. But still there is a chance, so it will be useful for you to find out what to do in case of a thermo nuclear explosion.
Well, first of all, you need to prepare. You need to discuss with your loved ones all evacuation routes. Choose a few places on the outskirts of the city where you can meet after the incident.
Set up a hiding place that you can use in case of danger. The cache should have bottled water, warm blankets, canned food, a radio and a first aid kit, especially if someone in the family is unwell. If you have a secure cellar or basement, make sure that you can easily go down there and that it has everything you need for the first time. 
This is the main thing that you should know about preparation, and now what to do directly during the explosion.
Stay away from the blast radius, that's it dangerous place, here no one and nothing will survive. Even the bunker won't save you. You must be more than 5.7 km away from the epicenter. Avoid places that could be potential targets for a nuclear strike. 
Let's say you're far enough away and you see bright light when a nuclear bomb explodes. Do not look at the flash - otherwise you will go blind, as it will look like an artificial Sun, which is much closer than the real one. Remember, you need to move away from the flash, not look at it. 
If you are in a high-rise building, run deep into it and take cover somewhere there. You'll only have a few seconds before the shock wave hits. Let's hope this building is far enough away from the explosion that it won't be razed to the ground. Stay away from windows as you may be riddled with glass shards.
Cover your ears with your hands. If the shockwave is strong enough, your eardrums may collapse and rupture.
If the building holds up, you need to stay inside for hours, maybe even all day. Thus, you will be protected from ionizing radiation and the resulting cloud of radioactive fallout, they cannot penetrate to you through so many layers of concrete or brick. 
If you are not inside the building, you may have problems. If you breathe air contaminated with radiation, you will be struck by radiation sickness. The best thing you can do is to find a closed room somewhere where the air from the street will not enter. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth. Radiation contamination is particularly difficult to avoid, but let's hope the wind blows in the other direction.
According to mathematical calculations, if you are far enough from the center of the explosion, but you are in an unreliable shelter, then it is better to run to a more protected place - you will have no more than 30 minutes for this, otherwise you are provided with a lethal dose of radiation.
After the explosion, the level of radiation will be extremely high, but a few hours after the explosion, it will decrease much. External world will still pose an incredible danger, so you will need to move on, leave places contaminated with radiation. But until the radiation particles settle, you will have to wait for at least 12 hours before leaving your hideout.
If possible, remove outer clothing such as a coat or jumper - this will remove up to 90% of the radioactive particles that have settled on you and may save you from mortal danger. Just leave the clothes somewhere or throw them in a metal container to stop the radiation.
Once you are at a safe enough distance, take a shower to wash away any remaining radiation particles. Blow your nose and wipe your face with a clean damp cloth. 
If the explosion caught you on the street, fall prone to the ground, cover your head with your hands. It is better to take cover behind a metal object or structure, this can protect you from radiation. After everything calms down, do everything possible to take cover from the radioactive fallout.
If you survived the explosion, don't relax. You have yet to go through the post-apocalyptic terrain, confront the marauders and try to build a new society. Good luck survivor! 
Damaging factors of nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons have five main damaging factors. The distribution of energy between them depends on the type and conditions of the explosion. The impact of these factors also differs in form and duration (contamination of the area has the longest impact).
shock wave. A shock wave is a region of sharp compression of the medium, propagating in the form of a spherical layer from the explosion site at supersonic speed. Shock waves are classified depending on the propagation medium. The shock wave in the air arises due to the transfer of compression and expansion of air layers. With increasing distance from the place of explosion, the wave weakens and turns into an ordinary acoustic wave. wave passing through given point space causes changes in pressure, characterized by the presence of two phases: compression and expansion. The contraction period begins immediately and lasts a relatively short time compared to the expansion period. The destructive effect of a shock wave is characterized by excess pressure in its front (front boundary), velocity head pressure, and the duration of the compression phase. A shock wave in water differs from an air one in the values of its characteristics (high overpressure and shorter exposure time). The shock wave in the ground, when moving away from the explosion site, becomes similar to seismic wave. The impact of the shock wave on people and animals can lead to direct or indirect injuries. It is characterized by light, medium, severe and extremely severe injuries and injuries. The mechanical impact of a shock wave is estimated by the degree of destruction caused by the action of the wave (weak, medium, strong and complete destruction are distinguished). Energy, industrial and municipal equipment as a result of the impact of a shock wave can receive damage, also assessed by their severity (weak, medium and severe). The impact of the shock wave can also cause damage Vehicle, waterworks, forests. As a rule, the damage caused by the impact of the shock wave is very large; it is applied both to people's health and to various structures, equipment, etc.
Light emission. Represents a collection visible spectrum and infrared and ultraviolet rays. The luminous region of a nuclear explosion is characterized by a very high temperature. The damaging effect is characterized by power light pulse. The impact of radiation on people causes direct or indirect burns, divided by severity, temporary blindness, retinal burns. Clothing protects against burns, so they are more likely to be on open areas body. Fires at facilities are also a major hazard. National economy, in forest areas resulting from the combined effect of light radiation and a shock wave. Another factor in the impact of light radiation is the thermal effect on materials. Its character is determined by many characteristics of both radiation and the object itself.
penetrating radiation. This is gamma radiation and the flux of neutrons emitted in environment. Its exposure time does not exceed 10-15 s. The main characteristics of radiation are the flux and flux density of particles, the dose and dose rate of radiation. The severity of radiation injury mainly depends on the absorbed dose. When propagating in a medium, ionizing radiation changes it physical structure by ionizing the atoms of matter. When exposed to penetrating radiation, people can develop radiation sickness varying degrees(the most severe forms are usually fatal). Radiation damage can also be applied to materials (changes in their structure can be irreversible). Materials with protective properties are actively used in the construction of protective structures.
electromagnetic impulse. The set of short-term electric and magnetic fields arising from the interaction of gamma and neutron radiation with atoms and molecules of the medium. The impulse does not direct influence per person, the objects of his defeat are all conductive electricity bodies: communication lines, power lines, metal structures, etc. The result of the impact of the pulse may be the failure of various devices and structures that conduct current, damage to the health of people working with unprotected equipment. Especially dangerous is the impact of an electromagnetic pulse on equipment that is not equipped with special protection. Protection may include various "add-ons" to wire and cable systems, electromagnetic shielding etc.
Radioactive contamination of the area. occurs as a result of the fallout of radioactive substances from the cloud of a nuclear explosion. This is the lesion factor that has the most prolonged action(tens of years), operating on a vast area. The radiation of falling radioactive substances consists of alpha, beta and gamma rays. The most dangerous are beta and gamma rays. A nuclear explosion produces a cloud that can be carried by the wind. Fallout of radioactive substances occurs in the first 10-20 hours after the explosion. The scale and degree of contamination depend on the characteristics of the explosion, the surface, meteorological conditions. As a rule, the area of the radioactive trace has the shape of an ellipse, and the extent of contamination decreases with distance from the end of the ellipse where the explosion occurred. Depending on the degree of infection and possible consequences external exposure allocate zones of moderate, strong, dangerous and extremely dangerous contamination. The damaging effect is mainly beta particles and gamma radiation. Especially dangerous is the ingress of radioactive substances into the body. The main way to protect the population is isolation from external exposure to radiation and the exclusion of radioactive substances from entering the body. It is advisable to shelter people in shelters and anti-radiation shelters, as well as in buildings whose design weakens the effect of gamma radiation. Personal protective equipment is also used.
Protective structures and actions to take shelter in them
Protective structures are structures specially designed to protect people, in particular from the effects of damaging factors nuclear explosion. They are divided into shelters and anti-radiation shelters (PRU), as well as the simplest shelters - cracks. In the event of a sudden attack, the shelters and the PRU can be adapted to suit the characteristics of the premises. Shelters provide reliable protection for people sheltering in them from the effects of all the damaging factors of a nuclear explosion. People can be in them for a long time. Reliability of protection is achieved due to the strength of structures, the creation of normal sanitary and hygienic conditions. Shelters can be built-in and free-standing (built-in are the most common). Anti-radiation shelters protect people from external gamma radiation and direct contact with radioactive substances on the skin, from light radiation and shock waves. The protective properties of the PRU depend on the attenuation coefficient, which shows how much the radiation level in the open area is greater than the radiation level in the shelter. The basement and basement rooms of buildings with a high attenuation coefficient are often adapted under the PRU. In the PRU, conditions must be created for the normal life of the sheltered people (appropriate sanitary and hygienic conditions, etc.). The simplest shelters - cracks, of course, provide much less protection from the effects of damaging factors. The use of slots, as a rule, is also accompanied by the use of personal protective equipment. Work to bring protective structures to readiness is carried out under the leadership of the headquarters of the civil defense, their compliance with established standards is checked. The rules and procedures for people to take shelter in protective structures are established by the civil defense headquarters.
Individual protection means
Means of protection of respiratory organs. These include gas masks, respirators, cotton-gauze bandages and anti-dust fabric masks. These products provide respiratory protection against harmful impurities and radioactive substances contained in the air.
Skin protection products. There is an urgent need in nuclear contamination to protect everything skin person. Skin protection products are divided according to the principle of action into insulating and filtering. They provide complete protection of the skin from the effects of alpha particles and weaken the light radiation of a nuclear explosion.
Medical protective equipment is used to reduce the impact of factors of damage on the human body and prevent undesirable consequences this impact (radioprotective agents from an individual first-aid kit).
Nuclear explosion and radioactive contamination
The effects associated with nuclear explosions are lethal - blinding light, intense heat ( thermal radiation), primary radiation, explosion, fire caused by a thermal impulse, and secondary fires caused by destruction. A nuclear explosion produces radioactive particles called fallout, which can be carried by the wind for hundreds of miles.
The use by terrorists of a Radiation Dissemination Device (RDD, often referred to as a "dirty nuclear bomb" or " dirty bomb is considered more likely than the use of nuclear weapons. This weapon is a combination of regular explosives and radioactive materials and is designed to spread lethal and near-lethal amounts of radiation over a wide area. Terrorists like these radioactive weapons because, compared to nuclear weapons, they require almost no technical skills to assemble and use. In addition, the radioactive materials used in it are widely used in medicine, agriculture, industry and research, and much more accessible than uranium or plutonium-level substances.
The use of nuclear weapons by terrorists is very likely to be limited to one rather small "suitcase". The power of such a weapon is roughly equivalent to the range of the bombs used in World War II. The nature of the impact would be similar to that of a weapon delivered on an intercontinental missile, but the radius and force would be much more limited.
Find out how far in advance the warning will be before terrorist act, does not seem possible. The possibility of a sudden attack is not ruled out.
The danger of mass strategic nuclear attack With large quantity weapons with an ending cold war decreased. However, states with nuclear programs have supported some terrorists.
In the event of a threat of attack from a hostile country, people living near potential targets will be warned to evacuate or may choose to leave for a location not considered a likely target.
In general, potential targets are:
Location of strategic weapons and military bases.
Government centers, such as the capital of the country, and the capitals of the regions.
Important transport and communication nodes.
Manufacturing, industrial, technological and financial centers.
Oil refineries, power plants and chemical plants.
major ports and airports.
In a nuclear attack, shelter is absolutely essential. There are two types of shelter - from an explosion and from radioactive fallout. A blast shelter provides some protection against blast pressure, initial radiation, heat, and fire, but even such a shelter would not survive a direct nuclear attack. Fallout shelters do not have to be specially constructed. This can be any sheltered location, as long as the walls and ceiling are thick and dense enough to absorb the radiation given off by the fallout particles. The three protective factors of a rain shelter are reflection, distance, and time.
Reflection. The heavier and denser materials- thick walls, concrete, bricks, books and earth - between you and particles of precipitation, the better.
Distance. The more distance between you and the radioactive particles, the better. An underground area, such as the basement of a house or office building, will provide better protection than the ground floor. Floor in the center high-rise building may be better, depending on what is nearby at this level, and on which significant particles of precipitation will accumulate. Particles collect flat roofs, so the top floor is not suitable, nor is the floor adjacent to the flat roof of an adjacent building.
Time. The level of precipitation radiation falls relatively quickly. After a while, you will be able to leave the shelter. Fallout most dangerous to humans during the first two weeks, during which time the radiation level drops to about 1-3%.
Remember, any protection, no matter how temporary, is better than none at all, and the more reflection, distance and time you can use, the better.
electromagnetic pulse
In addition to other effects, the explosion nuclear bomb in the atmosphere or above the earth's atmosphere can create an electromagnetic pulse (EI), an electric field high density. EI is similar to a lightning strike, but stronger, faster, and shorter. EI can damage electronic structures connected to power sources or antennas, including communication systems, computers, electrical devices and the ignition system of a car or aircraft. Damage can range from a minor glitch to burning components. Most of the electronic equipment within a 1,000 mile radius of a high-altitude nuclear explosion could be affected. Battery operated radios with short antennas generally do not fail. While it is unlikely that human beings will be harmed by EI, the pulse may be harmful to people with pacemakers or other built-in electronic equipment.
How to prepare for a nuclear explosion or radioactive contamination
1. Listen to alerts and all alerts in your community. You need to know what these signals are, what they mean, how they are used, and what you should do if you hear them.
2. Collect and keep ready a set of items needed in emergency with food, water, medicines, fuel and personal belongings. The stock should last up to 2 weeks - the more the better.
3. Find out which public buildings in your community may have been fallout shelters. They may have been built many years ago, so start there and find out which buildings are still in use and can be reused as shelter.
Call your local emergency management office.
Look for black and yellow radiation shelter signs on public buildings. Note: With the end of the Cold War, many signs were removed from specially designed buildings.
If no official shelters have been built, or you haven't been able to find them, make your own list of potential shelters near your home, workplace, and school: a basement or windowless room on the central floors of a high-rise building, as well as subways and tunnels.
Give your family clear instructions on where radiation shelters are located and what actions to take in the event of an attack.
4. If you live in an apartment building or high-rise, discuss with the manager the most safe place in the shelter building and how to keep residents alive until it is safe to go outside.
5. In suburban and rural areas not many public hiding places. If you want to build a shelter yourself, consider the following features.
The best place to hide from radioactive fallout is a basement or underground room. Often only minor changes are enough, especially if your house has two or more floors, and the basement - or one of its corners - goes underground.
AT Peaceful time radiation shelters can be used as warehouses, but only if the things stored there can be quickly removed. (Putting things away, tight heavy objects can be used to enhance reflection.)
A windproof room can be used as a shelter in case of a nuclear explosion or to protect against radiation, especially in a house without a basement.
Items needed to stay in the hideout do not have to be stored until you can quickly move them to the hideout.
6. Find out about your community's evacuation plans. Plans may include escape routes, evacuation locations, public address systems, and provision of transportation for those who do not have cars and for people with special needs.
7. Obtain other emergency preparedness booklets you need.
What to do during a nuclear explosion or radiation contamination
1. Do not look at the flash or fire ball- you can go blind.
2. If you hear an attack warning:
Take cover ASAP, UNDERGROUND IF POSSIBLE, and don't come out until you've received other instructions.
If you are outside at this time and cannot immediately enter the premises, take cover behind any object that may offer protection. Lie flat on the ground and cover your head.
If the explosion occurred at some distance, blast wave, may take 30 seconds or more to reach you.
3. Protect yourself from radioactive fallout. If you are close enough to see a blinding flash or a nuclear explosion, the fallout will appear in about 20 minutes. Take cover, even if you are several miles away from the epicenter - the wind can carry radioactive particles hundreds of miles. Don't forget the three protective factors: reflection, distance, and time.
4. Keep a battery-operated radio with you and listen to official announcements. Follow the instructions you receive. The instructions of the local authorities must always be followed first: they know the situation better on the ground.
What to do after a nuclear explosion or radiation contamination
In a public or home shelter:
1. Do not leave shelters until officials say it is safe. Once out of hiding, follow their instructions.
2. In a special radiation shelter, do not go out until local authorities they will not say that it is possible or desirable to go out. The length of your stay can vary from one day to two to four weeks.
Contamination from a radiation spreading device can cover a wide area, depending on the amount of conventional explosives used, radioactive material, and atmospheric conditions.
A nuclear device - a "suitcase" of a terrorist, blown up on the ground or near the surface of the earth, will drag soil and debris into an explosion cloud and produce a large number of radioactive fallout.
A nuclear weapon delivered by a missile from a hostile country is likely to produce a much larger explosion and create a larger cloud of radioactive fallout.
The decay time of radioactive fallout is the same, that is, residents of areas with the most high level radiation must necessarily remain in the shelter for up to a month.
The most intense precipitation will be limited to the explosion area and the area along the wind direction. 80% of precipitation will fall within the first 24 hours.
In this regard, and because of the extremely limited quantity weapons that terrorists could use, most of countries will not be affected by precipitation.
In most affected areas, people will be allowed to leave the shelter in a few days and, if necessary, evacuate to uncontaminated places.
3. Although it may be difficult, make every effort to maintain sanitary conditions in the shelter.
4. Water and food may not be enough. Use them sparingly, but do not set a rigid diet, especially for children, the sick or the elderly.
5. Help the shelter managers. Stay with a lot of people on confined space can be difficult and frustrating.
Homecoming
1. Listen on the radio for information on what to do, where to go and what places to avoid.
2. If your home was within the bomb's shockwave radius, or if you live in a high-rise or apartment building that was subjected to a conventional explosion, check for signs of collapse or damage, such as:
tilted chimneys, falling bricks, crumbling walls, crumbling plaster.
fallen small pieces of furniture, paintings and mirrors.
broken window panes.
overturned bookcases, walls, or other solidly standing objects.
fire escaping from damaged fireplaces and stoves.
breakthrough of gas and electric lines.
3. Clean up spilled medications, flammable liquids, and other potentially hazardous substances immediately.
4. Listen to a battery powered radio for instructions and information about services in your community.
5. Listen regularly for information about help, which may be announced on the radio and TV. Local, regional and federal level and other organizations will help meet all the needs of the emergency and repair damage or loss.
6. The danger may be aggravated by damage to water mains and power lines.
7. If you turned off the gas, water and electricity before going to the shelter:
Do not turn on the gas yourself. The gas company will turn it on or you will receive other instructions.
Turn on the water, the main faucet, only after you know that the water supply is working and the water is not contaminated.
Turn on the electricity, the main node, only after you know that the wires in your house are not damaged and the power supply in your area is functioning.
Check the sewage system for damage before using the sanitary facilities.
8. Stay away from damaged areas.
9. Stay away from areas marked "Radiation Hazard" or "Hazardous Materials".
Preparations for prevention and treatment radiation sickness
For prevention radiation injuries and treatment different forms, stages and manifestations of radiation sickness, a large number of different medicines are used. Preventive agents are combined under common name"radio protectors". They are used for the threat of radiation injury, radiation therapy for cancer patients, work with radioactive substances. Some drugs have a general (systemic) effect. Others are applied topically to prevent and treat lesions of the skin and adjacent tissues. as radioprotectors. general action, used, as a rule, inside, sulfur-containing compounds (Cistamine), serotonin derivatives (Mexamine), esters of glycerol (Batilol), etc. are used. To protect thyroid gland from damage by radioactive iodine, use potassium iodide. When radioactive compounds enter the stomach, enteral sorbents are used ( activated carbons and etc.); various complexones (Pentatsin, Ferrocin, etc.). For the treatment of general manifestations of radiation sickness (damage to the nervous, cardiovascular systems, vomiting, disorders of hematopoiesis, etc.) are used medicines of the corresponding pharmacological profile (Leukogen, Zymosan Suspension, Actovegin.). For the prevention and treatment of skin radiation injuries, a number of ointments, liniments and other dosage forms(Tezana liniment, Parmidine ointment, Dieton ointment, etc.).
1. Anyone within 800m of the source of the explosion will die instantly with a 90% chance, and within 3,200m with a 50% chance. Radiation spreads very quickly: if you are within a radius of 8,000 m, you have about 10-15 minutes to find shelter. So run. Pay attention to which way the wind is blowing and hold on opposite direction. Try not to look into the area of the source of the explosion - you risk going blind. It is advisable not to close your mouth, because the sounds accompanying nuclear strike are likely to rupture eardrums.
2. If you are within 8,000 meters of the explosion but you know there is no time to run, your salvation is a refuge. The best option- get inside the basement of a high-rise building or a room without windows. If you can't get into the basement, climb above the 10th floor to the most isolated room. But keep in mind that the metro option is the highest priority, because it is suitable for a long-term shelter.
3. If you are tens of kilometers away from the seat of a nuclear attack, your main concern— fallout that can last for weeks. Even if you live 100-150 km from the explosion site, pay attention to the news about where this flow is predominantly directed. You will probably still have to seek shelter underground.
4. The most likely targets for a nuclear attack are government buildings, military bases, large retail outlets, power plants and ports. If you're lucky and you get text message about an impending strike, it is best to move away from such places. Try to avoid and major highways. In the event of a disaster, highways tend to get stuck and filled with people who desperately want to get out of the city.
5. Please note that radioactive fallout will certainly remain on your clothes and on your skin. Therefore, one more important task — get rid of clothes and wash, if possible. It is recommended to wrap the clothes in a plastic bag and place them as far away from people and animals as possible. If you have the opportunity to take a shower, do not use any washcloths and scrubs. Use as much soap and shampoo as possible. After a shower, we further advise you to avoid contact with water: radiation will gradually begin to seep into the groundwater.
6. Alas, there is no way to find out in advance how long you will have to stay in the shelter. According to experts, it can take from several days to several weeks before the level of radiation drops sufficiently. Listen to the radio wait for information on the internet: You will be told at what point going outside will become possible and will not lead to death.
7. In many post-apocalyptic films, we see heroes raiding grocery stores. In reality from you'd better refrain from this practice: food, like water, will be exposed to radiation. By the way, the temptation to pocket non-food items is no less fraught.
8. Prepare your home. The house should be stocked in case of any disaster: first aid kit, bottled water, flashlights. Stock up on foods that are not perishable: canned food, cereals, pasta, etc. Keep potassium iodide on hand for water purification.
9. If you live in a city, find out where the local bomb shelters are. Calculate how long it will take you to get to this point. Information about hiding places can be found on the Internet. We advise you to take a closer look at the buildings nearby, so that in case real threat do not get confused and immediately develop a plan of action.
