Action sheet: nuclear emergency

Get Inside. Stay Inside. Stay Tuned.

First 60 minutes

1. Flash: do not look. Get on the ground, face down, behind something solid or away from windows. Cover your head and the back of your neck.
2. Wait for the blast wave (seconds or more than a minute). Stay down at least 2 minutes.
3. Get inside in under 10 minutes. A solid building minutes away; if not, your home or apartment.
4. Bring everyone and the pets into the shelter room. Close doors and windows.
5. Turn off air conditioning and heating that draw in outside air.
6. Decontaminate anyone who was outside: outer clothing into a sealed bag, shower with soap and shampoo, no conditioner.
7. Place mass (water, books, heavy furniture) against the exterior walls of the room.
8. Turn on the radio. Send a short text message to your out-of-state contact.

First 24 hours

• Nobody goes out, except for fire, collapse, gas leak, or a serious medical emergency.
• Listen to the radio every hour; write down instructions and times.
• Eat and drink only what is packaged or was kept indoors.
• Treat wounds (chapter 7). Watch for heat illness and dehydration.
• Pets: indoors, washed if they were outside, with a litter box or newspaper.
• Ration batteries: radio at set times, flashlights only when needed.
• Stay calm: radiation outside drops about 90% in 7 hours.

First days

• Stay inside until authorities say it is safe to go out or tell you to evacuate.
• If you evacuate: official route, away from the blast point and the fallout; 72-hour backpack; pets on a leash or in a carrier.
• When you go out, cover your nose and mouth; when you come back in, outer clothing into a bag and wash.
• Do not eat garden produce or anything that was uncovered outside until it is cleared.
• Tap water for washing, yes; for drinking, only when confirmed.
• Potassium iodide: only if authorities say so.
• Seek medical care for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or skin redness when it is safe to go out.