1 00:00:07,56 --> 00:00:16,58 These are particles of radioactive fallout. 2 00:00:18,64 --> 00:00:22,94 And this is how a single particle looks magnified several hundred times a 3 00:00:23,68 --> 00:00:26,18 radioactive piece of matter from a nuclear explosion 4 00:00:35,77 --> 00:00:38,52 these few particles can do us any significant harm 5 00:00:41,51 --> 00:00:47,56 but should there be a nuclear attack many billions of them would fall from the sky. 6 00:00:47,58 --> 00:00:50,46 Releasing radiation that could cause sickness 7 00:00:50,46 --> 00:01:26,39 or death in the area where they fall. 8 00:01:33,14 --> 00:01:37,16 This is that the. 9 00:02:30,99 --> 00:02:32,87 To begin with. It may be surprising to know 10 00:02:32,87 --> 00:02:35,65 that radiation is something we live with every day. 11 00:02:40,77 --> 00:02:47,33 Far back in time back before there was an earth why there were flaming 12 00:02:47,33 --> 00:02:53,43 fireballs in space we call them stars 13 00:02:55,61 --> 00:03:02,51 and there are millions upon millions of eight stars like our own sun 14 00:03:02,51 --> 00:03:08,58 is a raging nuclear furnace to choose out showers of particles too tiny to be 15 00:03:08,58 --> 00:03:12,08 matter as we can see that along with invisible forces 16 00:03:12,08 --> 00:03:16,16 that we call radiation this radiation 17 00:03:16,16 --> 00:03:22,20 and these particles travel through space at fantastic speeds until they strike some 18 00:03:22,20 --> 00:03:28,58 other matter which may make new flavors of radioactivity they strike wandering 19 00:03:28,58 --> 00:03:31,75 asteroids moons 20 00:03:31,75 --> 00:03:38,65 and planets such as our own everything in space earth included receives 21 00:03:38,65 --> 00:03:39,23 this radiation 22 00:03:54,11 --> 00:03:59,60 background radiation is all around us in tiny quantities. 23 00:04:00,00 --> 00:04:04,15 Later even planted unstable adults deep inside the Earth itself. 24 00:04:06,65 --> 00:04:11,94 They decay one by one here and there in a barrage of inconceivably small 25 00:04:11,94 --> 00:04:13,24 and silent explosion. 26 00:04:14,88 --> 00:04:21,41 Each explosion is another spark of radiation all life on earth has reached its 27 00:04:21,41 --> 00:04:26,55 present form in company with radiation from this naturally occurring radioactivity 28 00:04:27,86 --> 00:04:33,27 extremely thin with extremely low level intensity. It has always been with us. 29 00:04:34,70 --> 00:04:35,34 It is nothing new. 30 00:04:46,78 --> 00:04:52,85 We don't worry about the small amounts of natural background radiation. 31 00:04:54,00 --> 00:05:00,01 But the safely handle larger We must keep our distance 32 00:05:00,01 --> 00:05:06,92 and shield ourselves for as the amounts 33 00:05:06,92 --> 00:05:13,24 increase so to the dangers the amount of energy 34 00:05:13,24 --> 00:05:16,29 generated by a look we're explosion is enormous. 35 00:05:20,46 --> 00:05:26,75 Here the crater area there was almost total destruction from the blast in the now 36 00:05:26,76 --> 00:05:28,98 large amounts of power arise debris 37 00:05:28,98 --> 00:05:31,77 and molten dirt pulled up into the mushroom cloud. 38 00:05:33,21 --> 00:05:39,82 This is where radioactive fallout is for the radioactive 39 00:05:39,82 --> 00:05:43,36 Adams produced in the explosion joined with the particles of earth 40 00:05:43,36 --> 00:05:50,12 and debris the mushroom shaped cloud forms 41 00:05:50,12 --> 00:05:56,59 climbs higher it now contains billions of highly radioactive 42 00:05:56,59 --> 00:05:59,68 particles of matter that we call fallout. 43 00:06:02,62 --> 00:06:06,87 The strong winds of the upper altitudes go to work on the cloud blowing off in one 44 00:06:06,87 --> 00:06:13,13 or more directions gravity tugs on the part of the larger 45 00:06:13,13 --> 00:06:17,14 and heavier ones sink toward the ground while the lighter particles continue to 46 00:06:17,14 --> 00:06:22,43 drift with the with some of the lightest particles remain suspended in the upper 47 00:06:22,43 --> 00:06:27,66 atmosphere as time passes their radioactivity grows weaker so 48 00:06:27,66 --> 00:06:29,39 that the longer they remain a lot. 49 00:06:30,24 --> 00:06:35,59 The less dangerous they are but the heavier particles spread by high altitude 50 00:06:35,59 --> 00:06:41,72 when fall to the ground within twenty four hours several miles from the explosion 51 00:06:41,72 --> 00:06:48,19 they are about the size of table salt are fine say these are the most dangerous. 52 00:06:48,21 --> 00:06:51,54 Because they carry the greatest number of radioactive atoms 53 00:06:51,54 --> 00:06:57,92 and so emit the largest amount of nuclear radiation which brings us to an all 54 00:06:57,92 --> 00:07:03,90 important fact deadly as radiation can be. 55 00:07:03,92 --> 00:07:10,21 And this gives us an invaluable ally. Time. 56 00:07:10,22 --> 00:07:15,56 So close a nuclear explosion takes place at twelve noon. By one o'clock. 57 00:07:16,18 --> 00:07:22,15 The total force of the residual radiation is at a high level. By seven o'clock. 58 00:07:22,57 --> 00:07:28,43 It's down to one tenth. In two days although still dangerous. 59 00:07:28,81 --> 00:07:32,54 It's only one one hundred. But in two weeks. 60 00:07:32,87 --> 00:07:39,69 It's only one one one thousand with this 61 00:07:39,69 --> 00:07:44,29 decay rate in mind consider radioactive fallout conditions which might confront us 62 00:07:44,29 --> 00:07:50,61 after a massive attack within an hour fallout would be a serious problem in the 63 00:07:50,61 --> 00:07:52,63 vicinity of explosions which occur on 64 00:07:52,63 --> 00:07:59,59 or near the ground by seven hours after the attack the fallout area covers more. 65 00:08:00,00 --> 00:08:04,48 More of the country as the prevailing winds expand the fallout in a downwind 66 00:08:04,48 --> 00:08:11,28 pattern twenty four hours forty eight hours without 67 00:08:11,29 --> 00:08:15,37 shelter millions would face death. 68 00:08:17,52 --> 00:08:22,94 A few days later those who have taken shelter will survive in many areas people can 69 00:08:22,94 --> 00:08:29,55 even leave shelter for brief periods of time to carry out important tasks within 70 00:08:29,56 --> 00:08:29,79 two weeks. 71 00:08:30,83 --> 00:08:35,42 Most people can leave their shelters for longer periods as the radioactivity decays 72 00:08:35,42 --> 00:08:40,95 to lower levels. The lesson is obvious. 73 00:08:41,77 --> 00:08:48,49 We must feel ourselves from radiation through the dangerous period. 74 00:08:53,10 --> 00:08:54,85 To do this we need more than time. 75 00:08:56,94 --> 00:09:01,18 Fortunately we have another ally distance 76 00:09:05,16 --> 00:09:09,60 the greater our distance from the fallout particularly the less radiation we 77 00:09:09,60 --> 00:09:16,36 receive you would receive less radiation in the middle of a tall building then you 78 00:09:16,36 --> 00:09:20,31 would receive on the top or bottom floors because there would be more distance 79 00:09:20,31 --> 00:09:24,11 and partitions between you and the source of the radiation. 80 00:09:24,13 --> 00:09:27,46 The fallout of particles which would cover the roof on the ground around the 81 00:09:27,46 --> 00:09:32,78 building. Only an insignificant amount would get inside. 82 00:09:34,09 --> 00:09:38,08 And finally along with the cane rate and distance we have still another 83 00:09:38,08 --> 00:09:43,53 and very important ally mass. 84 00:09:44,32 --> 00:09:49,30 When highly radioactive fallout covers our immediate area we can shield ourselves 85 00:09:49,30 --> 00:09:53,34 to the most dangerous period by using the here weight of any material 86 00:09:58,78 --> 00:09:59,90 like the protecting the tiller. 87 00:10:00,00 --> 00:10:05,46 Must be heavy to shield out some ninety nine percent of the radiation you would 88 00:10:05,46 --> 00:10:07,72 need about five and a half feet of wood 89 00:10:09,82 --> 00:10:14,66 or two feet of earth or one a third feet of concrete 90 00:10:16,75 --> 00:10:21,55 or I have put a steel even though the thickness of these materials varies. 91 00:10:21,81 --> 00:10:28,68 They all weigh the same taking a house 92 00:10:28,68 --> 00:10:33,38 as an example. It offers a small amount of mass and distance from radiation 93 00:10:34,37 --> 00:10:37,13 but not enough protection in an area of heavy fall. 94 00:10:39,78 --> 00:10:44,93 The solution is play fallout shelters are the best defense against nuclear 95 00:10:44,93 --> 00:10:48,43 radiation whether in a home for a single family 96 00:10:50,89 --> 00:10:56,13 or a large community type in an apartment building they offer the kind of 97 00:10:56,13 --> 00:11:00,03 protection from radiation you would probably need in case of a nuclear attack 98 00:11:14,56 --> 00:11:20,31 but the best shelter would be worthless unless it was used most people find it hard 99 00:11:20,31 --> 00:11:26,28 to understand how silent invisible rays which cannot even be felt could be so 100 00:11:26,28 --> 00:11:28,17 damaging. 101 00:11:28,18 --> 00:11:33,42 Let's see what happens when radiation penetrates the body and attacks the cells. 102 00:11:33,43 --> 00:11:37,60 What is a cell and what happens when it is attacked. 103 00:11:38,56 --> 00:11:45,09 It's a simple organism which reproduces itself by dividing our bodies are made up 104 00:11:45,09 --> 00:11:49,13 of millions of cells there the building blocks of our blood 105 00:11:49,13 --> 00:11:53,97 and tissues now powerful radiation strikes 106 00:11:55,04 --> 00:11:59,95 and cells are injured or destroyed if radiation stuff. 107 00:12:00,00 --> 00:12:01,95 Ops before the accumulated dose is too great. 108 00:12:02,15 --> 00:12:08,23 Almost all of the damage eventually will be repaired. If radiation continues. 109 00:12:08,43 --> 00:12:14,25 There are some cells less able to function the top officials should the body fall 110 00:12:14,25 --> 00:12:17,13 behind in its recovery severe illness 111 00:12:17,13 --> 00:12:22,42 or death could result. 112 00:12:24,99 --> 00:12:31,68 The key then is the amount the total dose of radiation received we 113 00:12:31,69 --> 00:12:33,41 measure radiation in the same way. 114 00:12:33,46 --> 00:12:39,69 Speed is measured by a speedometer only instead of a speedometer we have a rate 115 00:12:39,69 --> 00:12:42,14 meter and instead of miles per hour. 116 00:12:42,40 --> 00:12:48,79 We measure the rate in rent can spur our we need another device 117 00:12:49,49 --> 00:12:53,97 called a dosimeter to record how much radiation a person has accumulated over a 118 00:12:53,97 --> 00:13:00,67 period of time in the same way we recorded accumulated distance in miles. 119 00:13:02,89 --> 00:13:13,04 The dosimeter records accumulated dose in Rankin's. 120 00:13:13,06 --> 00:13:15,90 With this in mind let's return to background radiation 121 00:13:20,78 --> 00:13:25,20 in an average lifetime a person might expect to accumulate about ten Rankin's from 122 00:13:25,20 --> 00:13:29,94 his natural environment not enough to affect his health. 123 00:13:35,34 --> 00:13:38,83 The same healthy person would need medical care if he received more than two 124 00:13:38,83 --> 00:13:44,92 hundred rand kins within a few days three hundred Rankin's in the same period would 125 00:13:44,92 --> 00:13:48,25 cause severe radiation sickness or possibly death 126 00:13:49,81 --> 00:13:54,81 and as we go beyond three hundred Rankin's the danger of death increases rapidly. 127 00:13:56,96 --> 00:13:59,42 So now we see why shelter is vital. 128 00:14:00,00 --> 00:14:04,11 The difference between accumulating a large dose because of little 129 00:14:04,11 --> 00:14:05,01 or no shielding 130 00:14:05,01 --> 00:14:10,28 and a small dose because of adequate shielding is the difference between death 131 00:14:10,29 --> 00:14:11,23 and life. 132 00:14:14,31 --> 00:14:20,72 No clothing of course could possibly provide enough shielding. 133 00:14:20,74 --> 00:14:24,94 However if you were to be in the open during fallout conditions clothing would keep 134 00:14:24,94 --> 00:14:26,62 the particles from touching your skin. 135 00:14:27,99 --> 00:14:30,36 There is no such thing as a fallout suit 136 00:14:30,36 --> 00:14:34,65 but ordinary clothing would help until you could reach the safety of a shelter. 137 00:14:35,71 --> 00:14:37,67 Then the fallout particles can be brushed off 138 00:14:37,67 --> 00:14:44,49 and outer clothing removed if fallout settles on your food the food itself 139 00:14:44,49 --> 00:14:45,72 is not harmed. 140 00:14:46,02 --> 00:14:48,34 Since radiation damages only living tissue 141 00:14:49,51 --> 00:14:55,02 and you can easily decontaminated using almost the same method you use in everyday 142 00:14:55,02 --> 00:15:01,41 food preparation actually even if you accidentally swallowed some fallout particles. 143 00:15:01,64 --> 00:15:07,05 It wouldn't kill you. The effect of any probably wouldn't show up for years. 144 00:15:08,41 --> 00:15:13,59 Still since there is a possibility of long term effects such as shortened lifespan 145 00:15:14,47 --> 00:15:16,43 cancer or hereditary damage. 146 00:15:17,43 --> 00:15:21,72 It's wise to remove the radioactive particles by simply washing wiping 147 00:15:21,72 --> 00:15:22,71 or peeling 148 00:15:25,48 --> 00:15:28,55 but it's vital to remember this neither water 149 00:15:28,55 --> 00:15:35,48 nor chemicals can destroy radioactivity the fallout particles 150 00:15:35,48 --> 00:15:37,79 can only be moved or washed away. 151 00:15:40,36 --> 00:15:45,92 Only time can reduce their potency and a lot of water. 152 00:15:46,97 --> 00:15:52,31 Well here again the same rules apply if necessary you could drink water containing 153 00:15:52,31 --> 00:15:53,94 fallout particles without worry 154 00:15:53,94 --> 00:15:59,94 or immediate harm the chances are you wouldn't have to for a long water helps to. 155 00:16:00,00 --> 00:16:03,61 Wash itself through the natural processes of sedimentation and filtration 156 00:16:06,12 --> 00:16:10,05 and swiftly moving rivers like this would carry most fallout particles downstream 157 00:16:17,07 --> 00:16:20,23 in still waters most particles would settle quickly to the bottom. 158 00:16:21,76 --> 00:16:26,43 Others might remain suspended in the water for a long time while a small percent of 159 00:16:26,43 --> 00:16:27,98 the radioactivity would dissolve 160 00:16:36,51 --> 00:16:40,16 the normal processing of a water treatment plant would make it safe to drink 161 00:16:41,75 --> 00:16:46,38 and water coming from a covered well would be safe from radioactive contamination. 162 00:16:49,10 --> 00:16:54,14 There is no problem with breathing for air is not contaminated once the fallout is 163 00:16:54,14 --> 00:17:00,92 on the ground fallout is not a poison gas if ventilation is needed in a 164 00:17:00,92 --> 00:17:05,45 shelter a simple inverted you fitting on a ventilator a pipe would keep all of 165 00:17:05,45 --> 00:17:11,19 particles from entering the pipe and getting inside. 166 00:17:12,70 --> 00:17:16,66 Of course surviving a nuclear attack means more than just waiting in a shelter for 167 00:17:16,66 --> 00:17:22,65 radioactivity to decay to safe levels survival reconstruction 168 00:17:22,65 --> 00:17:30,17 and recovery would involve decontamination in many areas it's a very difficult job. 169 00:17:31,47 --> 00:17:33,49 You know they need it all on Mars. 170 00:17:33,50 --> 00:17:35,45 Those right fifteen reckons per hour 171 00:17:41,52 --> 00:17:45,16 fall out would have to be removed from important areas by street sweepers 172 00:17:51,11 --> 00:17:53,58 and the remaining particles to be flushed out of the way. 173 00:18:05,87 --> 00:18:12,59 The the food would be a problem after a locally 174 00:18:12,59 --> 00:18:17,75 or attack. We would first use existing food supplies from shelters markets 175 00:18:17,75 --> 00:18:19,04 and surplus food storage 176 00:18:22,00 --> 00:18:26,39 when fallout educated safe levels people could begin to work in the fields for a 177 00:18:26,39 --> 00:18:33,32 limited period of time in a few areas the land 178 00:18:33,32 --> 00:18:34,71 would not be suitable for food 179 00:18:35,54 --> 00:18:44,65 but such crops is cut could be grown crops 180 00:18:44,66 --> 00:18:46,88 for human consumption would be grown in areas 181 00:18:46,88 --> 00:18:56,75 that had received the least for the 182 00:18:56,75 --> 00:18:58,07 reason we would be able to grow 183 00:18:58,07 --> 00:19:04,63 and planted in this land is the transfer of radioactivity from soil the plant is 184 00:19:04,63 --> 00:19:23,51 extremely low. 185 00:19:25,06 --> 00:19:30,55 And so if nuclear attack should ever come in spite of every effort to avoid We must 186 00:19:30,55 --> 00:19:33,27 be able to survive and rebuild for the future 187 00:19:36,15 --> 00:19:38,45 but survival can only come through knowledge. 188 00:19:40,14 --> 00:19:42,88 The basic facts we must all know are relatively simple. 189 00:19:44,31 --> 00:19:49,10 First there is nothing new about radiation. It has always been with us. 190 00:19:51,83 --> 00:19:56,41 What is new is the vast amount we will be exposed to as a result of nuclear 191 00:19:56,41 --> 00:19:57,19 explosion. 192 00:20:00,00 --> 00:20:03,06 Much of this danger would come to us in the form of dollars 193 00:20:04,98 --> 00:20:07,65 but we are not without personal weapons or defense. 194 00:20:09,31 --> 00:20:15,88 One of these is time radiation decays so we would not have to take maximum 195 00:20:15,88 --> 00:20:17,74 precautions indefinitely. 196 00:20:20,77 --> 00:20:27,02 Another defense is distance radiating particles fifty feet away for instance would 197 00:20:27,02 --> 00:20:29,87 not affect us as much as particles a few feet away 198 00:20:32,23 --> 00:20:37,53 and our third defense is mass any material with enough weight will keep the 199 00:20:37,53 --> 00:20:42,97 penetrating rays from hurting the greater the weight of the material between us 200 00:20:42,97 --> 00:20:49,94 and the particles the safer we would be the best way we can use all three 201 00:20:49,94 --> 00:20:55,02 weapons of Defense is with an adequate shelter thick enough to shield off a good 202 00:20:55,02 --> 00:20:58,55 part of the radiation until it has decay do safer levels. 203 00:21:01,13 --> 00:21:04,55 When radiation attacks the cells of our body are damaged. 204 00:21:04,81 --> 00:21:10,19 Most of them can repair themselves if the total blows over a period of time is not 205 00:21:10,19 --> 00:21:10,71 too high. 206 00:21:12,71 --> 00:21:17,41 Even though the Rays penetrate our bodies causing damage they do not infect us 207 00:21:17,41 --> 00:21:24,04 and make us or anything else radioactive. 208 00:21:24,06 --> 00:21:28,17 That's why food remains good no matter how much radiation has passed through the 209 00:21:29,95 --> 00:21:33,87 fallout accidentally swallowed with water or food will do you no immediate harm 210 00:21:34,91 --> 00:21:36,13 but for a long term safety. 211 00:21:36,43 --> 00:21:40,07 It's best to wash white or peel the food 212 00:21:41,12 --> 00:21:47,52 and filter the water even if you were caught outside under fallout conditions 213 00:21:47,52 --> 00:21:51,96 ordinary clothing would keep the radioactive particles from touching your skin 214 00:21:53,10 --> 00:21:59,93 but you would still need to find shelter quickly if we remember these back. 215 00:22:00,98 --> 00:22:06,45 If we act on them intelligently we can increase our chances of surviving nuclear 216 00:22:06,45 --> 00:22:11,31 attack and the key to survival is that it will jump 217 00:22:11,31 --> 00:22:11,42 and 218 00:22:14,28 --> 00:22:18,59 that is why the federal government has a nationwide fallout shelter program. 219 00:22:20,36 --> 00:22:25,35 The goal is adequate fallout shelter space for every man woman 220 00:22:25,35 --> 00:22:26,08 and child 221 00:22:28,50 --> 00:22:34,61 and this goal can be reached for with knowledge of radiation we can face the facts 222 00:22:34,61 --> 00:22:38,64 about fallout take action to protect ourselves. 223 00:22:40,06 --> 00:22:42,77 And learn how to live in the nuclear age.