Here is How You Can Survive a Nuclear War!

Things between Pakistan and India are heating up as tensions over Kashmir continue to rise. Our neighbor has been amping up its silos and rallying its offensive forces at the borders. Pakistani army has said that its ready for any misadventure.

Some analysts are even predicting a small scale war between the two countries and Indian media has been actively supporting the government to launch a full scale war against Pakistan.

If this were to happen, considering that both countries are nuclear powers, it could result in deaths of millions of innocent people as well as setting the region behind decades.

Most people, from both sides of the border, will agree that a war is not a solution and will only result in loss of lives and economic turmoil in the region. Both sides will gain nothing from it. While we would prefer the matter to be resolved diplomatically, this doesn’t mean that Pakistan should not respond if Indian forces aggravate the situation in any form or method.

In case that an all-out war does begin, use of nuclear assets could become a reality. Small sized tactical nuclear weapons at the least.

Hopefully it wont come to that, but just in case, we are going to guide you on how you can save yourself in case of a nuclear attack.

Understanding a Nuclear Explosion

So before we tell you on how to plan to survive a nuclear hit, here are few things to understand:

  • Nuclear weapons can be of different sizes, ranging from few kilotons to megatons.
  • Little Boy, the codename for hiroshima nuclear attack, was of 15 Kilotons
  • Maximum yield of a succesffully tested nuclear bomb (Tsar Bomba) was calculated at 50 Megatons
  • India has tested 60 Kiloton Nuclear Bomb

For a 15 Kilotons of nuclear detonation, anything with-in 2 kilometers will be evaporated due to blast effects. Severe damage can be done for another two kilomters (4 in total), while moderate damage (third degree burns) can be done with-in first 10 kilometers of the ground zero (point of penetration).

atom_bomb

Fallout Effects of a Nuclear Explosion

So if you are with-in 4 kilomters — of a 15 Kiloton atomic hit — then its pretty serious damage and chances of survival are very little, unless you are treated immediately or you are fully prepared for the hit.

Surviving direct nuclear hits are only possible through “Airlocked Underground Concrete Bunkers”, with steel shielding.

Here it is necessary to mention that there are two kind of damages a nuclear bomb can do:

  • Blast effect
  • Radiation effects

As mentioned above, first 4 kilomters of a 15 kiloton nuclear weapon will come under blast effect. Then there’s radiation effect, that can span through wider areas.

Radiations of a nuclear bomb can travel several kilomters, but that depend on how big the detonation was, the actual height of detonation and the direction of prevailing wind in the area at the specific time.

While the radioactive particles fade away after 9 days of nuclear hit, they keep travelling in air for some time until they fade away.

To understand nuclear bomb’s radiation fallout, check below diagram:

fallout_gd77

As the graphic show, the radiation fallout of a nuclear shot keeps travelling after a detonation and may cover much wider area during next few days until these radioactive waves are fully depleted.

Theoretical Fallout Data for a 15 Kiloton Nuclear Detonation

  • Fireball radius: 310 m
  • Radiation (500 rem) radius: 1.16 km
    • 500 rem radiation intake by a human without medical treatment, there can be expected between 50% and 90% mortality from acute effects alone.
    • Dying takes between several hours and several weeks.
  •  Air blast radius: 2.75 km
    • Most residential buildings collapse, injuries are universal, fatalities are widespread.
  •  Thermal radiation radius (3rd degree burns): 3.48 km
    • Third degree burns extend throughout the layers of skin, and are often painless because they destroy the pain nerves.
    • They can cause severe scarring or disablement, and can require amputation.
  • Thermal radiation radius (2nd degree burns (50%)): 4.7 km
    • Second degree burns are deeper burns to several layers of the skin. They are very painful and require several weeks to heal.
    • Extreme second degree burns can produce scarring or require grafting.
  • Thermal radiation radius (1st degree burns (50%)): 6.61 km
    • First degree burns are superficial burns to the outer layers of the skin.
    • They are painful but heal in 5-10 days. They are more or less the same thing as a sunburn.
  • Thermal radiation radius with no harm: 8.48 km
    • The distance at which anybody beyond would definitely suffer no damage from thermal radiation (heat).

So theoretically speaking, if you are 10 kilometers away from Ground Zero of a 15 kiloton nuclear explosion, you are pretty much safe.

But its always advise to run away from Ground Zero as far as you can.

Plan Ahead

When it comes to wars and war zones there’s only one way you can survive and that’s to plan everything in advance. When a war starts, you won’t be able to leave your house which is why you have to be ready beforehand.

Fusion Atomic bombs are fatal for up to 9 days so you might need to plan for that much time, i.e. you will have to stay with-in your bunker / safe placement for weeks.

Of course the radiation will still remain even after first 9 days, but once 9 days are past, you can escape to a shelter outside your city.

Build a Fallout Room

Your house might be able to save you from a nuclear explosion but it won’t be able to save you from the nuclear radiation, given you are with-in the fallout zone.

Either build a new room underground (in the basement) or convert the most distant room in your house to a fallout room. This room has to be the farthest one from the outside walls.

cover_r011

You will need to strengthen the walls as the thicker your walls are the more they can withstand radiation and blast shockwaves. If possible, apply a layer of tin, steel, copper or aluminium to stop the radiation from seeping in.

You will also need to bolt shut any windows and openings while maintaining a source for your oxygen consumption. Something like this could also come in handy during earthquakes.

Also keep in mind to prepare a toilet of sorts. You won’t be able to use water so you will need some disinfectants, cat litter and the like to manage it while you are stuck inside the same room.

Stock Up on Food, Water and Medical Supplies

The first thing you should do is have plenty of supplies in store. War times are pretty tough and you won’t be able to get stuff if something happens.

Store non-perishable food items which can last months if need be. Rice, wheat, sugar, beans, canned food, honey, powdered milk, dry fruits etc. These things won’t spoil with time and you can slowly start stocking until you have a supply for several months.

Same goes for water. You will need food grade plastic containers to store water because water resources become contaminated from nuclear radiation. You’ll have to store water in advance as well.

Medical supplies are also necessary. Who knows when you might need it. Get a first aid kit, your prescription medicines for the next few months and any daily use medicine that could come in handy. Get an instruction booklet as well so you know the basics of first aid.

Communication Equipment

While inside you will need to know of the surrounding conditions and there possibly won’t be any way to contact the outside world for a few days at least. In any case keep your mobile phone handy and charged. Don’t use it unless you need it and keep a power bank with you as well.

Buy a radio too. Radio updates will keep you informed on the status of the war and any rescue and sheltering camps near you.

Miscellaneous Items

Some items you should remember to keep with you at all times are flashlights, batteries, dust masks or any other masks, plastic sheets, tape, bags, some mechanical tools (wrench, pliers etc.)

You should buy some Potassium Iodide tablets as well. These can help against cancer causing radiation from the nuclear blast. But only take these pills after you are sure that there is nuclear radiation in your surroundings.

potassium iodide atom bomb radiation safety

Keep an Eye on the News

You have to stay up to date so that you know when the political situation gets out of hand. News channels will probably be able to inform of a nuclear strike a few minutes in advance, giving you ample time to hide and save yourself.

nuclear-explosion-lecture-radiation-safety-pop-art-retro-vector-retro-poster-war-721915691

If you do get info of the war in advance, it’s better to leave cities and places close to government buildings and army structures. Third tier, less populated towns are best to be in during a nuclear war.

What to Do When an Attack is Imminent

If you are outside or weren’t able to prepare in advance but still get to know of a nuclear strike, there are still some lifesaving steps to get you through that situation.

Seek Shelter Iimmediately

guide11

Even if you weren’t informed of a nuclear strike, you will be able to see a bright detonation light a few seconds before an atomic bomb goes off (unless of course you are at ground zero and in that case there’s nowhere to run).

During that time you can find shelter. It can be anything, like a house. You will have to hide inside and shut the doors and windows and lay with your face down. You might still get burned but it could save your life.

If going inside is not an option, start digging or jump to lower ground and lay facing down with as little of your skin out in the open as possible.

Escape if you Survive

If you survive the blast, run away from the blast zone because the debris and radiation can cause death. You’ll have to get inside and lock yourself and get treated as soon as you can or drive away to someplace safe and get treated. Do remember that the enemy can attack again as well so you have be as far away from the battlefields as possible.

If that’s not possible wear as many clothes as you can. And also avoid putting anything on your burns, but do clean them when you get the chance.

Know if You are in Nuclear Fallout

While this is not scientific method and may be risky to try but you can determine if you are with-in a nuclear fallout zone or not.

Hold your thumb up, if the blast is covered by your thumb then you’re in the safe zone, but if the blast is bigger than your thumb then you are in inflicted area and you must immediately run away as far as you can.

tumblr_npkzwjdqtw1s29x8lo1_1280

Final Words

We pray that both countries solve their disputes diplomatically but if worst comes to worse you can make use of these tips to save your and your loved ones’ lives. No matter what happens, help yourselves and help others.

Image Source: Wikipedia, Ki4u, CalgaryHerald

He is the Chief Content Officer at ProPakistani. Reach out at aadil.s[at]propakistani.pk


  • Good attempt at the article.

    However, bro, please watch 10 Cloverfield Lane. It’ll greatly improve your knowledge about fallout shelters.

  • Well I don’t think we have many bunkers here in Pakistan lol. But I’m pretty sure our great leaders will be perfectly safe so their sons can lead us once more. /S

  • What will be resolved if the nuclear weapons are used except killing of millions and destroying of trillions economy and then coming to the table talk.So, this idiot game should not be repeated.But as I have observed the situation it is all sponsored and the UN will just see the killing and then call for table talks.So, India should also see the gravity of the consequences because it is not a play of a film or the drama.

  • لا تتمنوا لقاء العدو، و سلوا اللہ العافیۃ۔ و اذا لقیتموھم فاصبروا، و اعلموا أن الجنۃ تحت ظلال السیوف۔ (صحیح البخاری، کتاب الجھاد و السیر، باب لا تتمنوا لقاء العدو، حدیث رقم ۱۰۸۲)
    (دشمن سے مڈ بھیڑ کی تمنا نہ کرو اور اللہ سے عافیت مانگو۔ ہاں، اگر ان سے تمہارا سامنا ہو تو پھر ثابت قدم رہو اور جان لو کہ جنت تلواروں کی چھاؤں میں ہے۔)

  • @amir bhai nice post! I think facebk should be banned for sometime in Pak! because social giving so much hype in this situation including one of the page zemtv on fb! Want friendship not war with India. Jo log samjhtay hay kay jung kuch nahi vo darasul bevakoof hain. Hum ko hosh se kaam lena chahiye josh se nahi. Aur ye baat dehan mei rakha karain wht ever we post thing on social media our enemies countries are watching it all the time so be careful in this regard. I love my country Pakistan and their innocent people. We are all one !!

  • Well look, it is not realistic for India to drop nukes or Pakistan but since we are discussing unrealistic possibilities, I know of one that will be extremely damaging to Pakistan. Now we have all seen news about India trying to cut off Pakistan’s water. There was even a map of rivers posted here a few days ago.

    One very easy way to attack Pakistan without actually dropping any bombs here is to poison those rivers. They flow into Pakistan, we 100% depend on them for agriculture, water supply etc.

    So all India has to do is poison the water. Dump radioactive waster material into the rivers. That will affect us, they will not affect India. See the maps in the previous article if you don’t believe me.

    **NO ONE WILL KNOW UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE**

    No explosions, no bombs, nothing. Just subtely poisoning our water will doom generations of Pakistanis. Even low levels of radioactivity will cause so many cancers.

    • Its funny, that ur apparent “apprehension” sounded more like a “wishful thinking”.
      Now before u go crazy and start ranting how u oppose war and destruction, FYI i am only implying that sometimes our imagination gets the better of us, in a very wrong way.
      There is a difference between war and genocide, i highly doubt that any sane, civilized human(regardless of his religion and ethnicity) is capable of the later, otherwise whats the difference between old savage like Ganges khan and modern man. Haven’t we learnt anything from history.
      Allah bless sanity to people from both sides to foresee our benefits/loss. Peace

      • Strange that you go back to Ganges Khan to make your point. How about a few more recent data points:

        – Dresden firebombing in 1940s
        – people killed by aerial bombings in Laos and Cambodia in 1960s-1980s
        – attempted ethnic cleansing in Yugoslavia war in 1990s (UN found that occurred by all sides Croat, Serbs AND Muslims).
        – Darfur Sudan. Forgot that? Muslims killing Muslims.

        So to answer your question: no, we have not learnt from history.

        Also, I did say unrealistic for my point. But it is far cheaper and easier to do than nuclear bombing of Islamabad, Karachi, etc. that some people think will happen.

        • Dude no need to get offended. I did not intend to provoke u. Also no need of “Shedding ur googled knowledge”. The Gnages Khan ref was made due to his symbolism of Barbarism and also i had no underlying motive likes of religion or ethnicity/race being any factor in it, so ur point “Muslims killing Muslims” was totally unnecessary and uncalled for. Sec My problem with ur OP was not that its realistic or unrealistic. It was how an idea of genocide(not war) can still cultivate the mind of a modern man(no taunt/sarcasm intended). Peace

  • Heheheh india Nuclear attack kabhi bhool k b pakistan p nhe karega Q k Pakistan Uska bapa hai

    • Don’t forget lots of stimpak’s and rad-x, possibly some radaway too if possible.

  • Where is Vault-Tec? I need a cryogenic statis pod inside Vault 111 so i can hibernate and return to post-apocalyptic world after 200 years.

  • It’s my humble advice to all fatties:

    Lose your wait in case war starts it will be easier for you to run

    Besides move away from cities and settle in villages as less populated areas are least prone to nuclear threat.

  • Dear Fellows. War should be avoided unless inevitable. We are seeing some social media and digital warriors these days from both sides. Please do this trick, light a match or lighter. Point flame towards your finger and spell WAR. I assure most will forget spelling.

  • No survival in nuclear war but certain death for all the localities in its radius and horrible consequences for the coming generations.Should the idiots learn some from the 1st and the 2nd world wars and the regional and the territorial wars and its out put in terms of financial benefits.The more we are read the more we are posing to be the idiots by out practices of this knowledge.We must condemn this sort of war mongering just for minting at the cost of the people living.


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