Nuclear explosion or radiation emergency: what to do? Shelter and potassium iodide
⏱ 2 min read
Power plant accident, attack, fallout. Below: what to do right away, what next, when to call 112 and what to avoid. The same instructions are in the free SurvivalZone.app and work without internet.
First, right now
- See a blinding flash? Do not look at it. Drop behind cover, face down, cover your head with your arms and stay there until the blast wave has passed.
- Get inside, stay inside, stay tuned. A basement or the middle of a large building is best, away from windows and the roof.
- Were you outside? Take off your outer clothes and shoes and put them in a bag. Shower with soap and shampoo without conditioner, blow your nose, rinse your eyes and ears.
Then
- Close windows and doors, switch off ventilation and air conditioning. Stay inside for at least 24 hours or until the authorities say you can leave.
- Follow official alerts on a battery radio or TV. The authorities will tell you whether and where to evacuate.
- Food in sealed packaging and bottled water are safe. Do not eat garden fruit and vegetables until the authorities say it is safe.
- Take potassium iodide only when the authorities tell you to, in the dose they give. It only protects the thyroid and does not protect against radiation itself.
- Bring pets inside. Wash those that were outside, wearing gloves.
When to call 112
Someone is injured, burned, or has nausea, vomiting and weakness after being outside. Only call when needed, so the lines stay free.
What not to do
- Do not take potassium iodide or Lugol’s solution on your own, and never drink iodine antiseptic. It can harm you.
- Do not go out to look or to collect your children if you have been told to stay inside. Schools also shelter in place.
- Do not bring contaminated clothes into your home.
See also
Frequently asked questions
When should I take potassium iodide?
Only when the authorities tell you to, in the dose they give. It only protects the thyroid from radioactive iodine, not from radiation itself.
Where should I shelter in a radiation emergency?
In a basement or the middle of a large brick or concrete building, away from windows and the roof. Close windows and switch off ventilation.
How do I decontaminate after being outside?
Remove your outer clothes and shoes, bag them and shower with soap and shampoo without conditioner. This removes much of the contamination.
Related topics
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Other scenarios
- ⚡ Power cut
- 🥶 Cold, no heating
- 🚱 No water or unsafe tap water
- 🌊 Flood, water coming in
- 🎒 Evacuation in 10 minutes
- 🔥 Fire in the building
- 🌡️ Heatwave
- ⛈️ Storm, strong wind
- 🚀 Air attack: missiles, drones, bombs
- 📢 Sirens, alarm, air contamination
- 📵 No signal, no internet
- ❤️ Someone is unconscious
- 🌍 Earthquake
- ⛵ Storm at sea, no internet
- 🚗 Road accident
- ☠️ Carbon monoxide or gas leak
- ❄️ Stuck in a car in a snowstorm
- 🌩️ Thunderstorm outdoors
- 🫀 Heart attack or stroke
- 🏊 Someone is drowning
- 🌲 Forest or grass fire
- 💳 Cards and cash machines not working
- 🦠 Epidemic, pandemic, dangerous disease
- 🧒 A child is missing
- 🫁 Choking
- 🩸 Severe bleeding
- 🔥 Burns and scalds
- 😷 Smog and poor air quality
- 🐻 Bear on the trail
- 🐗 Wild boar encounter
- 🏢 Fire at work: evacuation
- 🌪️ Tornado
- 🌧️ Flash flooding
- ☣️ Chemical incident
- 🏠 Quarantine at home
- 🛡️ Cyberattack
- 🔌 No power in your home
- 💨 You smell gas
- 😵💫 Someone faints
- 🏫 Alarm or evacuation at your child's school
- 🏜️ Drought and water restrictions
- 🌋 Volcanic eruption and ashfall
- 🛴 E-scooter accident
- 🛑 Attacker at school or in a building
- 🔔 An alarm goes off: home, flats, work
- 🧫 Suspicious package, powder, biological threat
- 💣 Bomb threat, suspicious item, explosion
- 💰 Robbery: shop, bank, street
- 💚 Suicidal thoughts: how to help yourself or someone else
- 🌲 Lost in the forest: how to survive
Sources
- Ready.gov: nuclear explosion
- Safety Handbook 2025, Polish Government (PDF, English)
- Polish National Atomic Energy Agency: radiation emergencies (Polish)
- Polish government Safety Handbook 2025 (PDF, Polish): CBRN threats, p. 35
- Polish Government Centre for Security: Get Ready! guide for crisis and war (PDF)
- German Federal Office for Radiation Protection: radiological emergencies (German)
- BBK (Germany): protection from explosions
Scientific literature and guidelines
- WHO: Iodine thyroid blocking guidelines for radiological and nuclear emergencies
- WHO: Psychological first aid, guide for field workers
Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-04.
General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.