Nukalert Key Fob

[keeha]

Prediction - more people will die of heart attacks and strokes from watching the media coverage of a "dirty bomb" than will die or get cancer from said bomb.

In fact that comment is one of the main selling points the manufacturer makes. Having it with you can confirm that you are not being exposed!

I have a Nukalert as well.  If one is thinking real nuclear war an addtional higher range R/hr detector can also be purchased (refurbished US Cold War models are a good price). 

http://www.nukalert.com/manual.htm

DO NOT test the instrument by “nuking” it in a microwave. Microwaves are not nuclear radiation - your unit will be instantly destroyed and the warranty voided.

[icarus]

By the time this thing senses the radiation, isn't it a bit too late?

[Flagg707]

By the time this thing senses the radiation, isn't it a bit too late?

Not necessarily - hence the need to make sure you have the detector scaled up at first - to make sure you don't walk into a high rad area on accident.

[houseoftang]

MM,

Glad to hear you now have the radiation detector like in Beyond the Thunderdome.  Remember to check the water.   

[GreenMonster12]

The trick to radiation is that unless you get a lethal dose you have time to move and minimize your exposure. Having a device which detects the level of radiation is a start. Then if you find that you have been exposed you need Potassium Iodide. This will block the absorbtion of radiation by the thyroid.
http://www.nukepills.com/

Basically since radiation is silent and oderless you have to have a device to detect it, then track the level of exposure; that along with blocking your body's absorbtion level and you can be fairly safe.
I've been thinking about getting one of those myself, mostly for the dirty bomb threat.

[Flagg707]

The trick to radiation is that unless you get a lethal dose you have time to move and minimize your exposure. Having a device which detects the level of radiation is a start. Then if you find that you have been exposed you need Potassium Iodide. This will block the absorbtion of radiation by the thyroid.
http://www.nukepills.com/

Basically since radiation is silent and oderless you have to have a device to detect it, then track the level of exposure; that along with blocking your body's absorbtion level and you can be fairly safe.
I've been thinking about getting one of those myself, mostly for the dirty bomb threat.

Just remember - you only need KI tablets if you ingest a radioactive iodine isotope (the one usually of worry is I-131).  I-131 is what is known as a "fission product" - something that is the result of splitting a U-235 or Pu-239 (or, for you purists out there U-233 from the thorium cycle or U-238 via fast fission).  KI tablets block the uptake of I-131 into your thyroid.  It won't do anything to help you if you walk into a high-gamma field.  Nothing will help you with that except distance or shielding - so the detector will be a help in that arena.

This means, KI tablets only need to be deployed if:

1.  A nuclear weapon is detonated, you are in the fallout path and breath in dust contaminated by I-131 (and I mean breath in a lot of dust here), or you eat food that was in the fallout path. 

2.  A "dirty bomb" that utilizes spent fuel is detonated and you are right across the street and somehow ingest a chunk of the material.

Otherwise, keep your KI tablets in their foil packs (or if you are using that liquid version, keep it sealed) - who knows when or if you might need it.  If a "dirty bomb" does go off, don't immediately swallow a KI pill - it is nasty tasting and why waste your bullets.  Find out information, avoid eating potentially contaminated food, etc.  Remember - you have an hour or two to take them and still get the beneficial effects.

Also remember, I-131 has a half-life of about 8 days.  That means if a gram of it is created, 8 days later you have half a gram, 8 more days you have 0.25 grams, etc.  Soooo, if you do get caught in a nuclear war or a "dirty bomb" that used spent fuel, eat food from your stash (you do have one, right?) while you walk away from the contaminated area - or you wait for about 7 half-lives for the I-131 (and the strontiums and other harsh gamma emitters if it was a bomb) to decay off.  That's about two months, so you better have a good supply of food layed in.

Good idea to have some KI on-hand, just don't waste it.  In my opinion, of course.

[houseoftang]

Flagg707,

Just out of curiosity (not as a criticism), how did you come to know all this?  You don't sound like you looked it up on Wikipedia.  And you don't sound like a Reptoid, either.

[Flagg707]

Flagg707,

Just out of curiosity (not as a criticism), how did you come to know all this?  You don't sound like you looked it up on Wikipedia.  And you don't sound like a Reptoid, either.

Uh, well, I am affiliated with a (civilian) nuclear facility, have a degree in a nuclear science discipline and have a personal interest in the weaponized versions of nuclear energy.

[houseoftang]

Uh, well, I am affiliated with a (civilian) nuclear facility, have a degree in a nuclear science discipline and have a personal interest in the weaponized versions of nuclear energy.

Ah.  So you might know something about EMP and shielding?  Is tin-foil really sufficient (no, not on my head, on my computer)?

[Flagg707]

Uh, well, I am affiliated with a (civilian) nuclear facility, have a degree in a nuclear science discipline and have a personal interest in the weaponized versions of nuclear energy.

Ah.  So you might know something about EMP and shielding?  Is tin-foil really sufficient (no, not on my head, on my computer)?

In short - tin foil would not usually be sufficient as shield for EMP.  Tell you what, I'll start a new thread over in "Energy and Water" and lay a few links down there since that might be a better place to discuss EMP.

[icarus]

. . .  Just remember - you only need KI tablets if you ingest a radioactive iodine isotope (the one usually of worry is I-131).  I-131 is what is known as a "fission product" - something that is the result of splitting a U-235 or Pu-239 (or, for you purists out there U-233 from the thorium cycle or U-238 via fast fission).  KI tablets block the uptake of I-131 into your thyroid.  It won't do anything to help you if you walk into a high-gamma field.  Nothing will help you with that except distance or shielding - so the detector will be a help in that arena.
. . . 1.  A nuclear weapon is detonated, you are in the fallout path and breath in dust contaminated by I-131 (and I mean breath in a lot of dust here), or you eat food that was in the fallout path. 
. . .
Also remember, I-131 has a half-life of about 8 days.  That means if a gram of it is created, 8 days later you have half a gram, 8 more days you have 0.25 grams, etc.  Soooo, if you do get caught in a nuclear war or a "dirty bomb" . . .

So, what you're saying is because I have no idea what any of this means, and the fact that the local authorites most likely won't be screaming "whatch out folks you are now ingesting I-131, please ingest your talblets now . . . I'm pretty much F*cked?

Also, with regard to food, do you mean any exposed food, or would all of my long term storage containers be doomed as well?

[Flagg707]

So, what you're saying is because I have no idea what any of this means, and the fact that the local authorites most likely won't be screaming "whatch out folks you are now ingesting I-131, please ingest your talblets now . . . I'm pretty much F*cked?

Also, with regard to food, do you mean any exposed food, or would all of my long term storage containers be doomed as well?

No, you are very far from being in trouble.  Hmmmm, I hesitate to offer advice on this - so just take it as a suggestion but do your own research - this is your neck (well, thyroid) we are talking about:

1.  If a nuclear detonation occurs near you, yet far enough away so that you don't have immediate wounds to worry about, go ahead and take a KI tablet.  Then get the heck out of the area.  Travel upwind if you can.

2.  If the authorities announce a "dirty bomb" has be exploded do a few extra steps (assuming you are not right there when it happens).  Find out where it was blown up at on a map.  See how close you are.  If you are very close and there is a lot of debris or dust in the air, go ahead an take a KI tablet.  You make a good point - authorities will either overreact or completely drop the ball at first.  That said, if you live twenty miles away - I wouldn't waste taking the KI tablet, the debris can't travel that far in amounts that you need to worry about.

3.  Your food will be fine as long as it is sealed in containers or in your house/apartment and reasonably sealed up.  Gamma rays won't hurt your food in the doses we are talking about.  Avoid foods with a fine coating of dust or at least wash them off.  If you are starving while trekking out of a blast zone and must each exposed veggies, go ahead and gulp down a KI tablet.

You will almost certainly be fine.

Anyone else have anything to add or think I'm off base here?

[GreenMonster12]

No that is perfect; that is one beautiful gem of knowledge right there. Thank you for explaining exactly what KI tabs will and won't do.

[vaporiser]

Flagg707,

Just out of curiosity (not as a criticism), how did you come to know all this?  You don't sound like you looked it up on Wikipedia.  And you don't sound like a Reptoid, either.

Uh, well, I am affiliated with a (civilian) nuclear facility, have a degree in a nuclear science discipline and have a personal interest in the weaponized versions of nuclear energy.

don't ride that nuke!   

old thread but still usefull..