The Survival Guide
Chapter One
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 c ... read full excerpt from The Survival Guide ebook
