March 14, 2001

5:13 PM

Of the three ways in which the A-Bomb can hurt you, RADIATION IS THE LEAST HARMFUL. An earlier post reminded me of this pamphlet from the Massachusetts Civil Defense Agency. Not as much fun as Duck & Cover, to be sure, but terribly earnest. Remember: Stay down for at least one minute.
posted by idiolect (3 comments total)

I was corrected some time ago on MeFi about the differences between radiation and radioactivity. Radiation being similar to the method used to heat foods in a microwave. Radioactivity being what eventually killed the Curies, as a property of atoms emitting radiation. (ie, the part that would stick around after an explosion).

posted by samsara at 5:33 PM on March 14, 2001

Radiation (and/or radioactivity) is a lot less harmful to the human body than the shockwave, firestorm, or the ensuing oxygen asphyxiation you may experience if you're closer to the blast. That's not to say it's a good thing, though. :)
posted by daveadams at 8:46 PM on March 14, 2001

But I think I'd rather be instantly incinerated into nothing by the blast than go through the agonizing death of radiation burns and poisoning.
posted by briank at 6:37 AM on March 15, 2001