General Medical Advices

The safest place in your home during an emergency caused by radioactive materials is a central room or basement. This area should have as few windows as possible. The further away is the refuge of the windows, the safer you will be.

Preparation is vital. Keep emergency supplies in this place. An emergency can happen at any time and it is advisable to keep the supplies and everything you need at the shelter in advance.

Every 6 months, check the supplies you have on the refuge. Replace any medication, food or batteries expired. Also, replace the water every 6 months to keep it fresh.

Make sure all family members know where the shelter and what to use. Warn them not to take any items from this place. If someone “borrows” an item from the shelter, you may discover that you are missing critical items when they need them most.

If you have pets, prepare a place in the shelter where they do their business. Pets should not go outside during a radiation emergency because they can bring back to the shelter of radioactive waste. Having a pet at the shelter will prevent radioactive materials from entering the place.

Preparation of emergency supplies

Keep supplies such as you would for severe weather emergencies or other. The following is a list of things to keep in mind when preparing your emergency kit.

- Long Life Foods – Examples of such foods are canned, dried and packed. Store enough food to last at least 3 days for each family member.
- Water – In preparation for an emergency, purchase and store bottled water or simply store the water from the tap. Each person in the house will need about 1 gallon of water per day, plan to save enough water for at least 3 days.
- A change of clothes and shoes – Check clothing every 6 months and remove clothes that no longer fit or do not match the weather station. Remember to include underwear, socks, sturdy shoes (traction) or work boots and clothes for winter and summer according to the need for time.
- Dishes and paper towels and plastic utensils – Store disposable dishware and utensils because you will have enough water to wash dishes and because community water sources may be contaminated.
- Plastic bags – Because it may not be able to leave the shelter for several days, you need to keep the garbage or trash in plastic bags until you can take the place.
- Bedding – Store sheets, blankets, towels and cots to be used during the time that you can not leave the shelter.
- Radio batteries and batteries – may not have power for several days. A battery-operated radio will allow you to listen to emergency messages.
- Medications – Keep childproof bottles in the shelter medical kit with doses of 2 to 3 days of the prescription drugs you are taking and mark them with the name and expiration date of each drug. (Ask your doctor how you can get small additional quantities of drugs). Be sure to check the medicine every 6 months to be sure it has expired.
- Toiletries – Keep supplies of soap, hand soap, toilet paper, disinfectants, etc..
- Flashlight and batteries – may not have power for several days. A flashlight will help you see at the shelter.
- A traditional phone or mobile phone – Although cell phones or cable service may run out, chances are you can use the phone to call abroad and seek information and advice from emergency services.
- Eyeglasses or contact lenses and cleaning supplies additional.
- Duct tape and heavy covers or plastic sheets – You can use these items to seal the door of the shelter and any vents into the same over a short period of time while the radiation plume is passing over the place.
- Pet food, baby bottle preparation, diapers, etc.. – Do not forget the other members of his family. If you have a baby bottle and store prepared extra diapers. If you have pets, keep a supply of pet food to last 3 days.
- First Aid – You can buy a first aid kit or do it yourself. Be sure to include the following items:

Sterile adhesive bandages
Sterile gauze pads 2 and 4 inches in size
Tape
Sterile rolled bandages
Scissors
Tweezers
Needle
Thermometer
Wipes Moisturizers
Antiseptic ointment
Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Soap or hand soap
Latex or vinyl gloves
Safety pins
Aspirin or pain relievers non-aspirin
Antidiarrheal medication
Laxatives
Antacids for stomach pain
Syrup of ipecac to cause vomiting if advised by the Center for Poison Control
Activated charcoal to stop vomiting if advised by the Center for Poison Control

- Games, books and other entertainment – Because you can play to stay for several days in the shelter, keep items on hand to take the family entertained during this time. Children tend to get bored if they have to stay in one place for long periods of time. Think of activities they can enjoy while in the shelter as finger painting, coloring books, play games, etc..

Tips to consider before entering the shelter

If you are outside when the alarm sounds, try to remove clothing and shoes and place them in plastic bags before entering the house. During severe weather, such as extreme cold, remove at least the outer layer of your clothing before entering the house to avoid carry radioactive material inside the shelter. Leave clothing and shoes outside. Shower and wash your body with soap and water. Removing clothing will eliminate 90% of radioactive contamination. By following this simple procedure, you will reduce the exposure time and the risk of injury from the radiation on.

Before entering the shelter, turn off fans, air conditioning and heating units that bring air from outside. Close and lock all windows and doors and turn off the fireplace damper.

When you enter the shelter use tape and plastic sheeting to seal any door, window or cracks for a short period of time while the radiation plume is passing over the place (listen to the radio). Within a few hours, you must remove the plastic and tape and ventilate the room. You can suffocate if you keep the shelter tightly sealed for more than a few hours.

Keep your radio tuned to the emergency response network all the time to be aware of the developments. The speakers will provide information about when to leave the shelter and also inform you if you need to take other emergency measures.

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