Free online book: Nuclear War Survival Skills
Has anyone read the whole thing? I’ve added this free online book to my future reading list.
(Thus far, my preparation regarding nuclear war survival skills has centered on coming to know my Maker.)
I did read the chapter on psychological preparation, which (superficially) addresses the issues of fear, terror, and emotional paralysis, as well as the potential help we can render each other. The author’s comments are true, but too brief to do much beyond raising awareness and offering a little hope.
I also enjoyed and agree with most of Chapter 13, Surviving Without Doctors.
If you have the time to read and comment, please share your insights with the rest of us.
Preplanning: Short and swift version is to put at least 3 feet of earth completely around yourself and prepare to stay put in that shelter until half life time spans have run their decay of the nucleotides, and are allowing safe exit back into the sunshine.
This means a shelter with fresh air intake with Hepa filtration and air exhaust, lighting,
Food, Water, Toilet facility, Medical supplies and comfort items, like your bible, books, playing cards, board games and notebooks for journaling.
See the chart below for reference
Here’s a summary of some of the radioactive isotopes to watch for.
Pardon the formatting problem with the chart, it has 5 heading columns.
Element Isotope(s) Half Life Properties Accumulates (bHL, biological half-life.) Associated with
Iodine 131 8 days dissolves in water thyroid (~100 days) thyroid cancer
Cesium 137 30 years dissolves in water everywhere cancer of liver, kidneys, pancreas
Strontium 90 29 years mimics calcium in body bones, teeth (30 years) leukemia
Plutonium Various Up to 83 million years inhaled; P-241 decays to Am-241 liver (20 yrs) bones (50 yrs) various cancers
Americium 241 430 years inhaled or ingested in food, water liver (20 yrs) bones (50 yrs) various cancers
Sources: Environmental Protection Agency; Argonne National Laboratory