First 10 Minutes: International Commission on Radiological Protection Publishes Instructions

• The safest shelter is provided by brick or concrete buildings, especially their basements and middle parts, as well as underground garages and railway tunnels.
• If contamination by radioactive fallout is suspected, contaminated outer clothing should be removed as soon as possible and exposed skin and hair should be thoroughly washed, preferably by showering with soap.
• You should stay in the shelter for 12 to 24 hours.
• In advance, you should stock up on water (2 liters for drinking and 2-4 liters for hygiene per person per day), food and a first aid kit.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection has published instructions on how to behave in the event of a nuclear explosion: it emphasises that proper preparation and quick action can save lives and health.

The first 10 minutes after the explosion are particularly important. During this time, it is necessary to find a suitable shelter as soon as possible, before radioactive fallout occurs. Masonry buildings, made of brick or concrete, are the safest, especially their middle parts or basements. Underground garages and railway tunnels can also provide good protection.

An example confirming the effectiveness of such a shelter is Mr. Eizo Nomura from Hiroshima, who survived the explosion on August 6, 1945, while in the basement of a house located just 170 meters from the epicenter. He died only 37 years later, at the age of 84. Experts warn that at a distance of several hundred meters from a nuclear explosion, most people without proper preparation have no chance of survival.

First: take off your clothes and wash yourself

After a potential fallout contamination, contaminated outer clothing should be removed and disposed of as soon as possible. Exposed skin and hair should be washed thoroughly, preferably by showering with soap. If this is not possible, exposed body parts can be washed in a sink or using wet wipes or paper towels. Animals should be treated similarly.

The shelter is safe to consume food, drink, and medicine that was previously there or in storerooms. ICRP experts recommend staying in the sheltered area for 12 to 24 hours until you receive official information that it is safe to leave the shelter, monitoring media such as a battery-powered AM/FM radio. Do not evacuate on your own until safe routes have been determined.

Water must be collected in advance. Divided into: drinking and personal hygiene

It is a good idea to prepare the necessary items in advance at the shelter. You should stock up on bottled water: 2 liters per person per day for drinking and 2-4 liters per person per day for personal hygiene and sanitation, recommending a one to two week supply, with extra water for pets. It is also a good idea to have a long-term supply of food, including for animals.

Other important items include a survival kit (flashlight with spare batteries, power banks, battery-powered AM radio), a first aid kit with medications for cuts and burns and daily medications, and spare underwear, clothing, footwear and cleaning products. ICRP also advises learning first aid for mechanical injuries and burns, and placing labels on children's clothing with their contact information, such as names, addresses and telephone numbers, in case they become separated.

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