How to deal with disasters such as World War, earthquakes, etc. ? (Part 2)

The adverse times that Sanatan has been warning about for some years now are at our doorstep ! The Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected the whole world over the past year, is but a small glimpse of the coming adverse times. The impact of the actual disasters is going to be many times more horrific and inhumane. It will be in different forms – man-made and natural. We will look at some of these problems in this series.

This series will give an overview of what you can do to protect yourself and your family during these adverse times. The purpose of this series is to make you alert.

We will have to assume that the use of nuclear weapons in the World War 3 is inevitable. Here, we explain – What is an atomic bomb, How intense it is, What is its effect and how to protect ourselves from it.

The adverse times that Sanatan has been warning about are at our doorstep ! Their impact is going to be more horrific !

Preparations to protect yourself from a nuclear attack

Inspect the basement or the shelter area at the middle of the building for shelter and alternatively, if possible, dig a trench around the house

A nuclear attack may take place anytime. Hence, it is important to identify potential safe places well in advance near the house, school, workplace and the usual route of our daily commute. An underground basement and the shelter area in the middle of a well-constructed building are the best places for shelter and to safeguard yourself from an imminent nuclear attack. If such places are not nearby, you can dig a trench around your house, the way trenches are dug during wartime, and use it during a nuclear attack.

Preparations to protect yourself from harmful radiation

Move away from the immediate blast zone

As soon as you realise that an atomic bomb explosion has taken place nearby, protect yourself from its harmful radiation. Move away from the immediate blast zone. The window of the fallout period is quite useful under these circumstances. As mentioned in our previous article, it takes time for the fallout to reach the ground level, and the effect of the fallout can be from 15 minutes or more. Utilise this time to get inside. If the blast zone is close to your house, stay indoors.

Hide in the trenches to protect yourself from the gamma rays

To protect yourself from the gamma radiation resulting from a nuclear bomb explosion, hide in the trenches dug around the house. These trenches should be 4-5 feet deep. Additionally, make sure that they are strong enough to bear the tremors caused by the explosion. Otherwise, you may get trapped under the resultant debris.

Avoid going to the terrace

After a nuclear explosion, the radioactive particles accumulate very fast – on the building terrace and the exterior walls. The radioactive material which falls on the earth is called a ‘fallout’. Hence, right after the explosion, you should avoid going to the upper floors of the building and stay away from the ceiling and exterior walls.

Avoid going near a window to see the enormous amount of light or to hear the sound of the explosion

The explosion of an atomic bomb results in an enormous amount of light and is followed by a piercing sound. If you sense such blinding light, do not go near the window out of curiosity. The resulting shock waves (the high-pressure vibrations caused by the explosion) can be deadly. These shock waves may damage old buildings and structures alike. Under such circumstances, stay behind a cupboard or a similar object in your house.

Close all the doors and windows of the house and cover the minor openings/gaps

If you are at home during such an atomic explosion (and you are unable to leave home), close all the doors and windows and cover small gaps in the doors and windows. This will block dust particles and toxic gases from entering. Use cello tapes to cover the minor gaps in the doors, windows, walls and tiles.

Steps to be taken if you are at the wheel/ in a vehicle

If you are travelling in a car or a vehicle at the time of the atomic explosion, you should look up a secure place and avoid going any further. Here, the objective is to protect yourself from the radioactive objects carried along with the wind and from the excessive heat generated. You should lookout for a safe and secure place and be there till the dust settles. If this is not possible, stay inside the vehicle, bowing your head and covering it with your hands. If you happen to be in an open area, lie flat on the ground on your stomach for some time.

Use material that can protect you from harmful radiation

Some elements such as lead, concrete and water have natural resistance to gamma and X-rays. Hence, storing any radioactive material either under water or in lead or concrete rooms. Therefore, to protect yourself from the radiation after an atomic explosion, take shelter in the middle portion of a building or in a tub-full of water. Alternatively, you can cover yourself from all sides with lead sheets to protect yourself from radiation. Such elements (lead, water and concrete) create a barrier and protect you from harmful radiation. As an additional measure, you can also use a chemical protective mask.

(1. www.remm.hhs.gov/nuclearexplosion.htm

2.www.epa.gov/radiation/protecting-yourself-radiation)

Measures to take to protect yourself once you have been exposed to radiation 

If radioactive dust settles on your body, immediately wipe it off and have a bath

After the fallout, radioactive dust might settle on your clothes. Therefore, you should carefully take off the spoiled clothes in a manner that the radioactive dust does not fall on other objects and does not spread. Then, gently wipe or wash the exposed skin with clean water. If possible, have a bath. It is important to get radioactive material off your body as soon as possible to lower the risk of harm.

If bathing is not feasible, carefully wipe the exposed skin with paper or a clean wet cloth. Later, blow your nose to remove the radioactive dust from the nasal passage. If there are pets in your house, treat them similarly.

Keep your exposed belongings in a plastic bag

You should keep the clothes and footwear worn at the time of radiation away in a plastic bag or another sealable container. Hand it over to the concerned officer for further examination. Do not use these clothes till the officer says they are safe to wear.

Wash your hair carefully

Use shampoo to wash your hair, but strictly avoid using a conditioner since it may cause the radioactive dust to stick to your hair.

Keep all the food items covered

Food, water and other eatables should always be covered during such emergencies. The food kept exposed to air should not be consumed. Do not even feed these to your pets. Besides, avoid taking water from open wells or ponds. Do not consume food grains, vegetables and milk if they are not covered.

Take potassium iodide tablets

Keep an ‘Emergency Kit’ ready for the coming adverse times. If possible, include potassium iodide tablets in the kit. Consult a doctor to know the exact dosage of these tablets for such emergencies. These tablets minimise the harmful effects of radiation. In foreign countries, people who stay close to atomic reactors are often advised to keep these tablets in their homes.

(https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/about-emerg-preparedness/potassium-iodide-use.html)

Look after your family members and pets

If your family members are scattered at the time of the atomic explosion, they should stay where they are. You can reunite with your family members once the situation improves. If you have pets, keep them indoors or at least in a confined space.

Unless instructed by the local administration, stay indoors

Radiation is most harmful in the initial 24-48 hour period after the explosion. Hence, stay indoors in this period. Also, strictly follow all the latest instructions given by the concerned officers.

Strictly adhere to Government directives

Listen carefully to what the Government officials have to say when they ask you to vacate your building. This will cover details on what to do next, where to relocate, how this will be done. Accordingly, follow Government directives. Here are some general guidelines. 1. Do not leave your house unnecessarily, 2. If you have vacated your building, do not go back to your house unless your building is declared safe by the concerned officers, 3. Old buildings and trees are most susceptible to collapse under the high-pressure vibrations created after the atomic explosion. Hence, stay away from old buildings and trees.

Keep abreast of the latest developments through television, radio etc.

You can obtain information on the latest developments about the changing situation through official channels such as TV, radio, etc. You will get to know aspects such as – Is it safe to go out, where to go and how to tackle the situation.

(Reference : https://ndma.gov.in/Reference_Material/Pocketbook-Dos-Donts)

Hydrogen bomb attack

A hydrogen bomb is a thousand times more deadly when compared with an atomic bomb. Its intensity can be modulated as per the need, and hence, it has the ability to cause maximum destruction. When a hydrogen bomb is detonated, it is always in conjunction with an atomic bomb. When an atomic bomb explodes, the hydrogen atoms get connected on account of the excessive heat generated. Hence, the hydrogen bomb is alternatively called a ‘fusion bomb’. Consequently, these atoms form a large mass and get converted into helium gas.

Perform ‘Agnihotra’ daily to protect yourself from deadly radiation

A protective sheath of Tejtattva (Absolute Fire Principle) gets generated around the individual who performs ‘Agnihotra’. Hence, ‘Agnihotra’ will be useful in protecting human beings from the pollution caused by the radiation of atomic bombs, other chemicals or biological pollutants during World War 3.

(More in Sanatan’s text – ‘Importance of Agnihotra and its benefits’.)