Prepare Yourself
Discuss the threats
Talk to the people you live with (including children) about potential threats. Share information about them and outline an action plan in case they occur. Consider how you will communicate with each other, determine meeting places where you will wait for each other in the event of a specific incident. Be prepared for any eventuality so that everyone knows in advance what to do.
2. Prepare an evacuation rucksack
To save time and to make sure you take everything you need in this or any other emergency, it is a good idea to make sure you prepare an evacuation kit in advance. It should include:
- battery radio + batteries
- torch + batteries
- essential documents
- lighter / matches
- breathing/protective masks
- map with local roads, compass, compass fitted to indicate the azimuth, GPS
- can opener
- meals for 2 days
- knife, pencil and notebook
- cutlery set
- rain coat
- First aid kit
- sleeping bag
- disposal bags
- spare clothes
- soap, disinfectant gel
- pliers, crowbar, multi-tool
- cash in small denominations
- filter bottle with a new filter
- rubber bands, string, cable ties
Each member of the household should have a separate rucksack ready and easy to put on. Since you do not know when you will need access to an evacuation kit, the most sensible solution is to have separate kits at home, work and car.
3. Identify the safest places to go
Think about the best shelter in the places you go to most often (work, school, home). The ideal place to hide from the negative effects of nuclear radiation is one with thick walls and no windows.
If you are warned of an impending emergency (e.g. announcement by state services, RCB ALERT), enter the nearest building immediately and move away from windows. Try to stay in the centre of the room – nuclear radiation decreases with increasing distance from its source. This will help provide protection from explosion and radiation.
If you are in the open air at the time of the emergency (e.g. detonation of a “dirty bomb”), then:
- hide from the explosion behind anything that can provide protection
- lie face down to protect yourself from the heat and falling debris
- avoid clouds of dust