 |
|
|
|
Wed. Mar. 1, 2000
|
|
|
Health & Science > Technology > Military Technology
|
|
|
|
|
|
Escaping Atomic Weapons is Easier Than You Think!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WMD is an acronym that stands for "Weapons of Mass Destruction." It includes atomic, hydrogen, chemical and biological weapons.
Atomic weapons are the most lethal of all WMD. Although it is commonly thought that there is no protection from atomic bombs, experiments and statistics have proven that a person's chance of escaping death in an atomic attack is greater than one might expect. More than 50% of those who were within three quarters of a mile of Hiroshima when it was attacked by atomic bomb are still alive, and their children are married with children of their own.
Organized evacuation is the first line of defense against atomic and hydrogen bombs. Shelters, public or private, are the best places to hide in the case of an atomic attack when there is an alarm. If the attack takes place without alarm and individuals are caught out in the open, they should lie prone with their bodies parallel to the nearest building that is upwind from the source of radiation. They should shield their heads with their arms, and protect their bodies from radiation by covering with cloth or newspapers or, even better, lie under a pile of stones (now we know another use for stones). Irradiated food and drink must not be consumed.
Chemical warfare agents are numerous, and they can be classified in more than one way. In terms of their physical characteristics, they are either solid, liquid or gas. From the point of view of tactical employment, there are two kinds: lethal and harassing.
If we look at longevity, there are persistent agents like sulfuric mustard that remain active for 10-12 hours, and non-persistent agents like phosgene that remain active for ten minutes at most.
However, the most important classification is according to their physiological effect, which is as follows:
Nerve agents:
These agents, which include tabun, sarin and suman are the most lethal. They are colorless and are ingested through the lungs, skin, mucous membranes, stomach and intestines, or by swallowing polluted saliva.
Symptoms:
It is well known that inhaling nerve agents for a few seconds causes death. However, symptoms that may occur from exposure include contraction of the pupils, pain in the eyes that is intensified by eye movement, and cramps in the face and other muscles that in most cases end in epilepsy. Frothing from the mouth may also occur, and can be accompanied by diarrhea and involuntary discharge.
Protection:
Gas masks are the best protection against nerve gases. If masks are unavailable, it is advisable to breathe through a handkerchief soaked in an alkaline solution or soapy water.
Medical treatment:
Victims must be removed from the polluted area, and their polluted clothing taken off and deposited in sealed containers. They must then be bathed with an alkaline solution or soapy water, and given an injection of atropine.
Blood agents:
These agents include chlorine cyanide, and they attack the red blood cells to unite with their hemoglobin and form a poisonous compound. Victims suffer from constriction of the chest and vomiting. The symptoms deteriorate into fainting and epilepsy. The quickest treatment for these symptoms is to give victims artificial resuscitation.
Blister agents:
This category includes mustard and sulfuric mustard. Mustard is considered the most dangerous war gas, as it boils at 217 degrees Celsius, meaning that it is not affected by external factors. It has a weak smell that resembles garlic, and can penetrate everything except glass and ceramic.
Symptoms:
After two to four hours, the victim's skin reddens and itches. After another four hours, painful blisters appear on the skin. Within six to eight hours, the blisters burst, rupturing the blood vessels under the skin.
Medical treatment:
The skin should be washed with warm soapy water immediately after exposure to blister agents, and the eyes should be washed with a solution containing 2% sodium carbonate.
Suffocating agents:
These agents include phosgene.
Symptoms:
Suffocating agents attack the lungs, destroying their blood vessels and causing fluids to leak into them eventually leading to suffocation.
Medical treatment:
The lack of oxygen must be treated quickly, and the heart and blood circulation should be stimulated. The victim should not be given artificial resuscitation.
Tear agents:
Symptoms from exposure to these agents include heavy tears, strong sneezing and inflammation of the eyes. Affected areas should be washed thoroughly with water, and victims must avoid rubbing their eyes.
Following safety instructions after exposure to chemical warfare agents can greatly reduce their harmful effects.
MFA, 31/10/2000
|
|
|
 |
what is this?
This widget will help you to store, organize, search, and manage your favorite online content through a range of social bookmarking services. These services permit users to save links to websites that they want to remember and/or share. These bookmarks are usually public, but can be saved privately, shared only with specified people or groups, or shared only inside certain networks. Authorized people can usually view these bookmarks chronologically, by category or tags, or through a search engine. Most social bookmarking services also permit their users to vote and rank public bookmarks to determine which are the best ones according to the number of votes they get.
|
 Send content to your friend |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Contact Health & Science
|
|
|
|
|
IslamOnline.net is not responsible for the content of external linked Web sites.
|
|
|
|
|
