A diagram shows where to go in a radiation emergency
This diagram provides a snapshot of where to go in a radiation emergency.FEMA
  • Russian threats have raised attention to nuclear safety.

  • In case of an impact, you can learn a few safety measures.

  • There are 13 tips on what to do and what not to do in the event of a nuclear detonation.

Concerns about nuclear safety have come back to haunt Russia as it invades Ukraine.

President Putin has said that he could deploy nuclear weapons in dire circumstances, and the US has said that an attack wouldn't go as planned.

Nuclear attack is not impossible, but is unlikely, according to experts. It would be a big problem for Russia.

Nuclear weapons have only been used twice by the US. Such a move is considered a red line that world leaders would not dare to cross.

The risk of a nuclear war is still present despite the fact that nine countries have nuclear weapons.

Since 1945, when nuclear weapons were used in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, they have gotten stronger.

Those who are close to the bomb face death in the unlikely event of a nuclear detonation. There are ways to increase the chance of survival further away.

In case of a nuclear attack, there are 13 do's and don't's.

There is nothing you can do if the nuke goes off.

In the case of a nuclear bomb hitting the US, people close enough to the impact would likely die regardless of how they prepared.

A blast of light, orange fireball, and building-toppling shockwaves would come from the bomb.

If the device hit a populated area, it would kill tens of thousands. Third degree burns would be suffered by anyone up to a few miles away. It is possible for people up to 53 miles away to be blind.

There were fires that ripped through the wreck. In the immediate vicinity of the blast, emergency services would not be able to help survivors. The people would be exposed to the radioactive material.

If enough of the world's nuclear weapons were deployed, there would be a nuclear winter that would cause global famine.

A population can't prepare for that.

In the minutes after an impact, there are things you can do to increase your chances of survival.

Drop to the ground with your face down.

School children take shelter under desks during an earthquake simulation exercise in an annual evacuation drill at an elementary school in Tokyo, Japan March 10, 2017.Reuters/Issei Kato

This position is recommended by the CDC because it will keep your hands, arms, and face away from flying debris that could burn your skin. You can get up after the shockwaves have stopped.

Here are 17 things you can do if a nuke explodes.

Don't stand near the blast.

You can be blinded for 15 seconds to a minute by the initial burst of light from a nuclear explosion. The CDC says to cover your eyes for those farther away.

A 1-megaton bomb can blind people up to 13 miles away on a clear day and up to 53 miles away on a clear night.

Do is to cover your face with a towel or piece of clothing

It's a good idea to cover your nose and mouth if you are near a nuclear explosion. The debris from an explosion may be dangerous to breathe in.

Don't go for a ride in your car.

Abandoned cars covered by weeds in Okuma, Fukushima, on February 20, 2019.Issei Kato/Reuters

People shouldn't take shelter in their vehicles, according to FEMA. Metal frames and glass windows aren't strong enough to protect you from plutonium. It's not easy to anticipate where radiation will travel.

ducking inside your car in an underground parking garage is the only exception to this rule.

Do is to find a school or office.

A building in Berlin's district "Maerkisches Viertel," Germany, April 2, 2019.Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch

After a nuclear attack, FEMA says brick or concrete buildings are the best shelter. The best shelter should have little to no windows and a basement.

These criteria are met by schools or offices. The mobile homes are too fragile.

If there are no sturdy buildings within 15 minutes of where you are, it's better to stay indoors. Wait at least an hour before trying to move if you discover that there is a safer building nearby. The potential for radiation exposure would have decreased by more than half by that time.

Don't stand near windows when you're inside.

Wes Gerwien, 28, looks out a window of his family home that was covered in fire retardant in Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada July 18, 2017.Reuters/Ben Nelms

If you are in a tall building, avoid the top and bottom floors.

FEMA says to stand far away from windows in the center of a room. It is possible for windows to be shattered up to 10 miles from an explosion.

Shut off heating and cooling equipment.

China Photos/Getty Images

The air pulled in from the outside by the heating or air-conditioning units could cause more harm than good.

Don't wait to take a shower.

An Afghan coal miner showers in the bath house after his shift is done on the grounds of the Karkar mine October 31, 2004 Karkar, Afghanistan.Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

People who were outside during the explosion should shower immediately and make sure the water is warm. It's a good idea to scrub too hard because it will break your skin.

While you're rinsing off, you should cover any cuts or injuries. FEMA advises those without access to a shower to use a sink or faucet. If you want to clean your body, you can use a wipe or cloth. It's important to blow your nose and wipe your eyes because debris could get stuck in these areas.

Don't use conditioners after you wash your hair.

It's important to rinse your hair after being exposed to radiation, but it's not a good idea to use a conditioner.

Cationic surfactants are compounds that bind to radioactive particles and can cause hair damage. They would act as a glue between your hair and radioactive material.

It's best to only use products that are designed to get off in the wake of a nuclear disaster. Body cream and face cream should be put on hold for a second or third time.

People are warned against using conditioner after a nuclear detonation. Radiation could get into your hair.

It's a good idea to seal away contaminated clothing.

Bags containing protective clothing are seen after Inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons left after visiting the scene of a nerve agent attack in Salisbury, Britain March 21, 2018.Reuters/Peter Nicholls

The CDC recommends that you keep your clothes out of the reach of children and pets by putting them in a plastic bag.

Don't search for your family immediately.

A man searches for belongings amongst debris in a destroyed neighborhood in the wake of Hurricane Dorian in Marsh HarbourReuters

If there is a nuclear explosion, the US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that you stay indoors for at least 24 hours. The exposure rate from a 10- kiloton explosion is 1% after 48 hours.

While protecting public health is a priority, it goes against natural instincts, according to a 2010 report. People will need to understand why they and their families are safe after a detonation.

Don't eat anything that was left outside.

FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2014 file photo, produce is displayed for sale at a farmers market in Kalamazoo, Mich. A study released on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 suggests that trimming dietary fat and eating more fruits and vegetables may lower a woman's risk of dying of breast cancer. (Katie Alaimo/Kalamazoo Gazette via AP)Katie Alaimo/Kalamazoo Gazette via AP

The CDC says it's okay to eat from sealed containers following a nuclear explosion. If you wipe off food containers, cookware, countertops, and utensils, you can eat things from your pantry or refrigerator.

Fruits and veggies from a garden are not safe to eat if it was left uncovered.

To get instructions, listen to the radio.

An invisible burst of energy can be caused by a nuclear explosion, and can destroy power, phone, and internet lines. Radio waves are more likely to be disrupted by a nuclear EMP than a nuclear one.

Emergency-response officials will broadcast safety instructions over the radio after an explosion. Unless you're told it's safe to go outside, you should stay indoors.

The story was originally published in September. An earlier version of the story was contributed to by a woman.

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