How to Survive a Nuclear Explosion

One ugly truth about Earth is the constant battle of the Arms Race. It exists whether we like it or not and history has shown us multiple, gruesome, affiliated tragedies.

Many countries have their own nuclear weapons and thus the threat of them is real. In the event of a nuclear attack, do you know what to do to maximize your chances of survival? Read on for six tips to outlast a blast!

1. Stay Calm

If you're lucky, you won't be in the initial blast radius. If you're not, but you're on the outskirts of it, the chances are still in your favor, but you can't allow fear to freeze you. Your actions will dictate the result. Make your decisions as cool-headed as you can. After all - you'll soon know what you're doing!

2. Be a Knowledgeable Leader

In a couple of minutes, you will hold the key to survival and can be the leader in a crisis. Help people who perhaps are panicking, or have no idea what to do during such a horrific occurrence. You may save lives. Direct everyone of their next steps. Holler as loud as you can about what to do and when.

3. Protect Yourself

A nuclear weapon creates a shockwave that breaks glass and shutters buildings/cars. Brace yourself in a doorway, or under something stable. If you're outside and have no options; lay on your stomach and lock your finger behind your head to protect it, put your thumbs in your ears, and do not look at the bright light of the explosion! Stay in this position until the shockwave passes you. With any luck, you're not injured. When the shockwave passes, the next step needs to be undertaken swiftly.

4. Lick Your Finger

You need to know the wind direction for this next vital time-sensitive step. As you may know, if you put your finger in your mouth, wet all sides, and hold it up above your head - you can tell the wind direction because it blows at your finger and makes one side of the fingertip cold. With this information, you can make a calculated next move;

Draw an imaginary line from the blast site, straight out in the wind's direction. If your position is on the left of that line - you run 90° from that imaginary line to the left. Vice versa on the right side of the imaginary line. Getting away from the wind's path will minimize the number of gamma radiation particles you may encounter.

Avoid using your vehicle to escape when in a heavily populated area - deadlock traffic is probable. Go as far as you're able, and find an ideal place to hunker down (see step 6). While traveling, know what sorts of supplies to look for.

5. Supplies

On your way to safety - and only if possible or available - keep an eye out for some key items;

• Water
• Food
• SOAP
• Blankets
• Radio
• First Aid kit
• Bucket (or another makeshift bathroom)
• Entertainment (such as a deck of cards or a book)

Your odds of finding the above items in a pinch are slim but having them on your mind could be the difference between staying safe or needing to leave your safe place to search for supplies. You also might choose your safe place based on what supplies may be available within.

Now that you're ahead of the game, it's a good idea to have an emergency kit for multiple events. House fire, power outages, car break-down, and now nuclear bomb etc. Keep them stocked, easily accessible, and maintained.

A great item to have for an emergency (of any kind) is a wind-up or battery-operated radio (with spare batteries). Having an emergency kit with items that are crucial for the nuclear threat is important too. Soap is a BIG one. Any particles that make it onto your skin or clothing need to be neutralized. Removing/changing clothing, and giving yourself a thorough clean gives you an excellent chance of survival - Providing you have a secure and safe place to wait for rescue.

6. A Safe Haven

The harmful radiation molecules travel horizontally, outward from the bomb site. This is important to understand so you can choose an ideal safe place to hunker down. If you can get to a basement - especially to the lowest floor of a multi-level basement, you're all set.

You've kept your cool, led a group with you, and have some crucial supplies. Well done!

Next, everyone gets cleaned with soap, and outer garments removed. Plain and simple. With any luck, there are enough uncontaminated blankets to go around.

If you're not deep enough in the ground it's a good idea to pile furniture and any thick items you can find, to create an additional barrier between you and the gamma radiation. Get your crew to assist.

Alternatively, if you're in a high-rise complex you can also be safe if you go high up. The higher the better, floor 30 or above. You should still create walls with any furniture available when high above the ground.

Finally, you stay put until help arrives. You can also wind up your radio and listen to any emergency broadcasts or news on what is happening and what you should do. When you know facts you can ration out your supplies accordingly.

Congratulations, you are now prepared!

Pro Tip:

Here's a bonus tip: Although it's not advisable to venture outside; if supplies run out, you need prompt rescuing, or someone needs medical attention, know how to leave an emergency signal. Three fires (ideally), or three other objects, equally spaced, placed in plain sight outside could draw in help.

Please share this knowledge. It could save lives!