Surviving Radiation from Nuclear Disasters

As we read and listen to the news each day, we can’t help but wonder just how close we are to our Lord and Saviour’s return. Most recently, the horrors of the Japanese tsunami should remind us of prophetic scriptures: “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” (Matthew 24:7) The number of earthquakes worldwide has risen exponentially in the last few decades.

With wars and other disasters looming in the near future, we can only benefit by knowing how to prepare for difficult times. Unfortunately many Christians today believe in the false rapture theory, believing they will be whisked away to safety when these troubles begin. They are being lulled into a false sense of security.

Surviving Radiation from Nuclear Disasters

At the time of this writing, the Japanese nuclear crisis is still very much in the news. Along with the tens of thousands of nuclear war heads around the world, you would have to think that eventually we will be facing some form of nuclear disaster. If such a situation ever arises, knowing what to do may be the difference between life and death for you and your loved ones.

Understanding the reaction of a nuclear explosion is a good place to begin. A nuclear explosion produces an extreme blaze of light, said to be brighter than the sun. This lasts approximately 15 to 20 seconds. Heat rays from the explosion travel at the speed of light, (about 186,000 miles per second), and can start fires up to 20 miles away. A blast wave follows the heat rays, and though it travels at a much slower pace, this wave can literally destroy buildings up to 10 to 20 miles away. The force of a nuclear explosion causes earth, stones, building materials and other debris to be pulled up into its mushroom cloud. While the heavier particles fall right back to earth (ground zero), the finer particles become a dust-like radioactive material known as fallout. Radiation and its fallout can travel thousands of miles.

The type of radiation that nuclear bombs and nuclear reactors from factories emit is known as ionizing radiation. It is very damaging to the human body. Ionizing radiation weakens and breaks up DNA, either damaging cells enough to kill them or causing them to mutate in ways that may eventually lead to cancer. According to Dr. Katsuma Yagasaki, “dust-like particles can enter human bodies, and once taken into the body, they will become tens of millions times more hazardous. Newly released data indicate that low-level radiation is more likely to cause biochemical abnormalities than intensive high-level radiation. It is wrong to make light of the hazard of low-level radiation.”

So what are our options, if we ever have to face this situation? Obviously evacuation is the best way to escape radiation and its fallout, but in larger cities, chaos may hinder any immediate attempts. Taking shelter may be your only alternative. The thicker the walls – the better your shelter. Use duct tape and any available materials to seal all windows and doors. You will need to stock up on water, food, supplements and emergency supplies, enough for everybody in the shelter (heat for the winter, etc.). A battery-run radio will keep you posted on outside conditions.

The type of radiation that nuclear bombs and nuclear reactors from factories emit is known as ionizing radiation.

As for supplements, medical doctors and natural health physicians agree (this may be a first!) that potassium iodide is what is needed to protect the thyroid from the damaging effects of radiation. The thyroid, a gland in your neck, controls how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins and controls how sensitive the body should be to other hormones. By taking potassium iodide, the thyroid becomes saturated with good iodine and cannot absorb the bad iodine from the radiation. Note: The potassium iodide used for protection against radioactive iodine comes in an adult dosage of 130 mg (milligrams) tablets. Potassium iodide products sold in most vitamin stores contain less than 200 mcg (micrograms), far less than what would be needed. Potassium iodide should only be taken in large dosages when radiation is in the atmosphere.

Foods rich in iodine, such as kelp, are good for overall protection from radiation. Cleansing superfoods such as spirulina and chlorella, both forms of algae that grow in fresh water, have been used as far back as World War II to help clear radiation exposure and quickly flush radioactive substances from the body.

Both zeolite and bentonite clay, formed from volcanic ash, are excellent for purifying the body of harmful toxins from radiation. The negative ions in these detoxifiers attract the positive ions of the toxins and help to flush them out of your system.

And lastly, encourage at least one member from every family to enroll in a first-aid training course. Know how to take care of cuts and burns, and how to treat with natural home remedies.