The Survival Guide: What to Do in a Biological, Chemical, or Nuclear Emergency - Couverture souple

Acquista, Angelo, M.D.

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0812969545 ISBN 13 : 9780812969542

Editeur : Random House Inc, 2003

Synopsis

Book by Acquista Dr Angelo

A propos du livre

Extrait

DIRTY BOMBS
RADIOACTIVE EVENT

Dirty Bomb

DESCRIPTION
Radioactive substance with conventional explosive

Time from Exposure to Illness
Minutes to years, though most injuries would be due to the explosion itself

Major Symptoms
Though acute radiation poisoning after a dirty bomb detonation is extremely unlikely, symptoms include upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, skin burns, peeling skin, weakness, fatigue, dehydration, inflammation, hair loss, open sores on the skin and in the mouth or along intestinal tract, vomiting blood, bloody stool, and bleeding from the nose, mouth, and gums

Emergency Response
-Leave the area of the blast site as quickly as possible, going against the wind if possible
-Cover your mouth and nose with fabric (wet if possible) if in the immediate area
-Seek shelter; go to a basement without windows if possible or else an inner room
-Unless you have been directed to a decontamination site by public-health officials, remove clothing and shower
-Avoid mass transit; leave the immediate area on foot (if you take a private vehicle, you might contaminate it)
-Listen to the radio or television for instructions from emergency officials
-Be prepared to evacuate

Treatment
Potassium iodide if radioactive iodine is confirmed (unlikely)

Possibility of Death
High from explosion, low from radioactivity

WHAT IT IS
A dirty bomb-also known as a radiological dispersal device (RDD)-combines conven-tional explosives, like dynamite, with radioactive materials, such as from used nuclear reactor fuel rods or hospital stores of radionuclides and isotopes. It is designed to spread radioactive material around an area the size of a few city blocks. The radioactive substance would probably be in the form of pellets or powder. It is not a nuclear bomb and does not involve a nuclear explosion.

Experts believe a dirty bomb could range in size from a small "suitcase" device to a truck bomb, and could be larger.

WHAT IT DOES
Effects from a Bomb Blast
Explosives produce four main effects:

Blast pressure. The explosion creates a pressure wave that extends in all directions away from the blast, followed by a vacuum created by this wave. People near the blast can be thrown by the wave and then pulled back toward the blast by the vacuum, suffering injuries similar to those sustained in a car accident. A large enough pressure wave would imme-diately disintegrate a human body.

Fragmentation. Damage due to flying objects, including fragments from the bomb itself.

Thermal effects. Damage due to heat and fire.

Seismic shock. Ground movement in the event of large detonations (such as the Oklahoma City bombing).

Radiological Effects
Radiation kills or damages rapidly dividing cells such as blood-forming cells found in the bone marrow and cells that line the intestinal tract. Severe exposure results in "radiation poisoning," causing untreated victims to dehydrate and bleed to death, although there is very little chance of this happening after a dirty-bomb explosion. The disruption of normal cell functioning that radiation causes can sometimes lead to cancer many years later.

CAN YOU TELL IF A BOMB IS RADIOACTIVE?
Radiological materials are colorless, odorless, and tasteless and cannot be detected by humans without specialized equipment. Thus, one should assume there is radioactivity present if near a blast and take the necessary precautions (see EMERGENCY RESPONSE below).

ASSESSMENT OF RISK
Risk of Use in an Attack
Despite the fact that use of chemical and biological weapons is on the rise, bombings are still used in approximately 70% of all acts of terrorism. The main reasons for this are:

1) They are cheap to make.
2) The components to make them, such as bags of fertilizer, are widely available.
3) The instant a bomb detonates it creates public fear and draws media attention, which are a terrorist's goals in addition to causing harm and devastation.

Obtaining radiological materials to combine with high explosives is not extremely difficult (at least for low-grade radiation material), but constructing the dirty bomb would be dangerous, as the radiation could burn and kill while the bomb was being assembled and transported.

Would-be attackers could find them too ineffective for their goals. For example, according to a United Nations report, Iraq tested a dirty-bomb device in 1987 but found that the radiation levels were too low to cause significant damage and so abandoned any further use of the device.

How Dangerous Is It?
While people could be killed by the blast itself, it is doubtful that the radioactivity produced after a dirty bomb would kill anyone. The radioactive material would be dispersed into the air and quickly reduced to low concentrations, thus only people within a few blocks of the explosion would be at risk of radiation exposure. In addition, because high-level radioactive materials from a nuclear facility are guarded and extremely difficult to obtain, it is much more likely that low-level sources would be used, such as might be found at hospitals, construction sites, and food-irradiation plants. The levels of radiation that would be created by the most probable sources would not be enough to cause severe illness from exposure.

Though it is possible that a low-level exposure of someone in the immediate vicinity might slightly increase the long-term risk of cancer, the risks are relatively minor. Doctors will be able to assess these risks after they determine the level of environmental exposure.

TIMELINE OF ILLNESS
Though most if not all injuries would be due to the explosion itself, the time to illness after radiation exposure depends on the radiation absorbed; symptoms may begin from minutes to weeks after a radiological incident. Exposure can continue to cause damage for years.

SYMPTOMS
The extent of radiation contamination depends on many factors, including the size of the explosive, the type and amount of radioactive material, weather conditions, the amount of radiation absorbed, the route of exposure, the length of time exposed, and the distance from the radiation source. Almost all deaths and serious injuries would probably be confined to the immediate vicinity of the explosion.

It is highly unlikely that symptoms of severe radiation exposure would occur after a dirty bomb. In fact, any material that could cause the severe exposure effects of acute radiation sickness (ARS) would be lethal in a matter of minutes to anyone transporting it in its pre-detonation form. Even a suicidal bomber would not be able to bring in enough radioactive material to create a significant radiation level after the explosion.

In the extremely unlikely event that someone was severely exposed to radiation, symptoms of RADIATION SICKNESS include upset stomach and vomiting; diarrhea; skin burns (redness, blistering); weakness, fatigue, exhaustion, fainting due to dehydration; inflammation of skin and mucous membranes (redness, tenderness, swelling, bleeding); hair loss; open sores in the mouth or along the intestinal tract; vomiting blood, bloody stool; bleeding from the nose, mouth, and gums; sloughing of skin; and open sores on the skin.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE
If you are potentially exposed to radiation, there are three basic ways to protect yourself:

1) Time. Decrease the time spent exposed to the radiation source.
2) Distance. Get as far away from the source as possible.
3) Shielding. Seek shelter, and create as thick a barrier as possible between you and the radiation. Even clothing and glass can shield from some types of radiation.

·Cover your mouth and nose with fabric (wet if possible) if in the immediate area.

·The Centers for Disease Control recommends that you leave the immediate area by foot. It you use public transportation, you may spread contamination or become contaminated yourself by exposed people from the area. You could contaminate your own vehicle as well.

·Shower as soon as possible with plenty of soap and change clothing if you were in the immediate area and were potentially contaminated. Put exposed clothing in double plastic sealed bags. You may be advised to proceed to the nearest public monitoring and decontamination center.

·Seek shelter at once and remain until radiation levels have dropped if you are
·more than a few blocks away and not covered in residue. Go to a basement and/or inner room without windows if possible. If you are inside, remain inside.

·Shut off ventilation systems inside the shelter, including fans, air-conditioners, and forced-air heating units; close fireplace dampers.

·Keep the radio or television on to learn the determination of radiation involvement, and follow instructions provided by emergency officials.

·Take potassium iodide (see TREATMENT below) if instructed to do so.

·Avoid potentially contaminated foods, such as fruits and vegetables grown in the immediate area, until their safety has been determined.

·Be prepared to evacuate. Wearing hats or scarves, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and sturdy boots or shoes will offer some protection from radiological exposure.

·If you are leaving the area, determine which way the wind is blowing and go in the opposite direction (unless that is toward the blast site). Listen to local authorities for evacuation instructions.

TESTING AND DIAGNOSIS
Specialized equipment is required to determine the size of the affected area. Geiger counters can quickly measure radioactive contamination. They are available in more than 3,000 hospitals and are often carried by emergency personnel.

In most cases it is difficult to make a reliable estimate of radiation absorption in an indiv...

Présentation de l'éditeur

From the medical director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, here, in straightforward language and with easy-to-understand instructions, is a step-by-step guide to protecting yourself and your family in large-scale emergencies.

The Survival Guide provides expert critical information about the most likely biological, chemical, and nuclear threats—and explains the basic steps to take before, during, and after a terrorist attack or other emergency situation.

Easy to use: standardized chapter format full of quick tips and information

Complete explanations: of different biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons

Early identification pointers: including symptoms, emergency response, testing and diagnosis, treatment, special precautions, preparation tips, and much more

Special sections: care for children, pregnant women, and even pets

Provides: resource sections with contact numbers and information, and instructions on what to do in the event of an attack, including advice on prevention as well as containment

Assesses: crucial information for disaster planning, including recommendations for action based on proximity to an attack and precautionary suggestions regarding mass transportation

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Random House Inc
• Date d'édition: 2003
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0812969545
• ISBN 13: 9780812969542
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 284
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible