Radiological, Biological, Nuclear and Chemical Threats
A radiological attack is the spreading of radioactive material with the intent to do harm. These radiological weapons are a combination of conventional explosives and radioactive material designed to caster dangerous and sub-lethal amounts of radioactive material over a general area. Such weapons appeal to terrorists because they require very little technical knowledge to build and deploy compared to a nuclear device. Also, these radioactive materials are used everyday in laboratories, medical centres, food irradiation plants, and for industrial uses. If stolen or otherwise acquired, many of these materials could be used in a “dirty bomb”.
The main reason this would be used is to contaminate facilities or places where people live and work, disrupting lives and livelihoods. Also causing anxiety in those who think they are being, or have been exposed.
There is no way of knowing how much warning time there would be before an attack by a terrorist using a dirty bomb, and the strength of the device is likely to be in the range of bombs used during World War II.
Remember that any protection, however temporary, is better than none at all, and the more shielding, distance and time you can take advantage of, the better.
Here are some simple things to consider that will aid your survivability.
- Shielding by way of heavy, dense material thick walls, concrete, bricks, books and earth between you and the fallout the better.
- The greater the distance between you and the fallout particles, the better. An underground area, such as an office basement, offers more protection than the first floor of a building. Flat roofs collect fallout particles so the top floor is not a good choice, nor is a floor adjacent to a neighbouring flat roof.
- Fallout radiation loses its intensity fairly rapidly so you will be able to leave your place of shelter in relatively short space of time. And on leaving should remove all articles of clothing asap as these may contain particles of the radiation dust and also wash your hair and hands again for the same reason.
"Remember that any protection, however temporary, is better than none at all, and the more shielding, distance and time you can take advantage of, the better.."