The first hour
- Move away from the blast area. Get inside the nearest building.
- Cover your nose and mouth with cloth if you're near dust or smoke.
- Remove outer clothing, bag it, and shower or wipe down (no conditioner).
- Close windows and doors and turn off ventilation. Stay tuned for instructions.
The first day
- Follow officials on whether to stay or go and where to get checked.
- Don't eat or drink anything that was open outside near the area.
- Help others by giving them space and calm info.
The first week and beyond
- Officials may set up screening centers. Go only if told.
- Talk about it with family; fear is often worse than the actual exposure.
Get ready now: checklist
Your checks save on this phone.
Common mistakes
- Panicking and assuming it's a nuclear explosion.
- Rushing to the hospital without injuries, which overloads care for the injured.
- Taking KI unless told to.
Keeping kids calm
- Keep explanations short and calm.
- Kids at school will be sheltered there.
Gear that helps
- Spare clothes bag
- Unscented wipes: my pick, Huggies Natural Care Sensitive Wipes, Unscented, 768 ct (12 packs)
- Contractor bags: my pick, Hefty Contractor Heavy Duty Clean-Up Bags, 42 gal, 35 ct
- Battery radio: my pick, Midland ER310
- N95 masks: my pick, 3M Aura N95 Particulate Respirator 9205+, 20 pack
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