Arcturus Primitive Skills Institute

fallout

11/30/25 Radiation Survival After a Nuclear Event: Free and Paid Medical References

by

Surviving radiation after a nuclear event requires both immediate protective action and long-term medical management. Radiation exposure can cause acute radiation syndrome, internal contamination, cutaneous injuries, and delayed effects such as cancer. The first step is to seek shelter in a reinforced or underground location to minimize exposure. Decontamination is critical—removing contaminated clothing and washing exposed skin reduces radioactive particles. Medical triage should focus on early signs of acute radiation syndrome, such as nausea and vomiting within hours of exposure. Supportive care, including hydration, antibiotics, and in some cases bone marrow stimulants, may be necessary. Survivors must also be monitored for long-term health effects, including organ damage and cancer risk.

Several authoritative resources provide guidance on radiation survival and treatment:

  • Medical Management of Radiological Casualties (AFRRI Handbook) – A concise military medical guide covering acute radiation syndrome, decontamination, and treatment. Available free as a PDF.

  • Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM) – Developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the NIH, this is a free, open-access database with interactive tools for clinicians.

  • CDC Radiation Emergency Treatment Guide – Free resource offering clinical guidance for healthcare providers during radiation emergencies.

  • IAEA Medical Management of Radiation Injuries – A comprehensive international reference for medical personnel with detailed treatment protocols. This is a paid publication, costing approximately €57.

  • Medical Consequences of Nuclear Warfare (Borden Institute) – A U.S. Army textbook covering acute radiation syndrome, triage, and psychological effects. Available as a free digital download.

  • Mayo Clinic Guide on Radiation Sickness – Freely accessible online, offering a public medical overview of diagnosis and treatment.

Together, these resources form a critical foundation for understanding and managing radiation exposure. Free guides such as AFRRI, REMM, CDC, the Borden Institute’s textbook, and the Mayo Clinic provide accessible knowledge, while the IAEA publication offers a paid but highly detailed international perspective. By combining immediate survival steps with trusted medical references, individuals and communities can better prepare for the aftermath of a nuclear event.

11/25/25 When the Sky Turns Red: Surviving a Nuclear World War III

by
Imagine the unthinkable: a nuclear World War III. Not a distant nightmare, but a real, unfolding catastrophe. Cities vanish in seconds. Infrastructure collapses. The air becomes poison. And for those who survive the initial blast, a slower, invisible killer begins its work—radiation.
 
If a nuclear event were to strike the United States, the aftermath would be catastrophic. Beyond the immediate destruction, survivors would face a medical crisis unlike anything modern healthcare has ever handled. Radiation sickness, or Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS), would become the frontline battle.
 
What Radiation Sickness Looks Like
Radiation sickness doesn’t announce itself with a bang. It creeps in. Within hours to days, symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue begin. The severity depends on the absorbed dose of radiation—measured in grays (Gy). The higher the dose, the faster and more severe the symptoms.
 
What Diagnosis Hinges On
Time to vomiting: The shorter the interval post-exposure, the higher the dose.
Blood tests: A drop in white blood cells signals bone marrow damage.
Dosimetry: If available, personal dosimeters or Geiger counters help estimate exposure.
Symptom progression: Neurological symptoms, skin burns, and gastrointestinal distress indicate high-dose exposure.
 
Determining the Absorbed Dose
To assess the absorbed dose, clinicians rely on:
Exposure history: Proximity to the blast, duration of exposure.
Symptom onset: Especially vomiting and fever.
Lymphocyte depletion kinetics: Serial blood counts over 48–72 hours.
Biodosimetry: Chromosomal analysis (dicentric assay) when available.
Radiation detection tools: Survey meters and dosimeters.
This data guides triage, prognosis, and treatment.
 
Treatment: Time Is Blood
The goal is clear: stabilize, decontaminate, and treat. Here’s how:
1. Decontamination
Remove clothing: Eliminates up to 90% of external contamination.
Wash thoroughly: Use soap and lukewarm water. Avoid scrubbing damaged skin.
Isolate contaminated individuals: Prevent spread to others and the environment.
2. Bone Marrow Support
Radiation destroys the marrow’s ability to produce blood cells. Without intervention, infection and bleeding become fatal.
Colony-Stimulating Factors (CSFs): Filgrastim (Neupogen), pegfilgrastim (Neulasta), and sargramostim (Leukine) stimulate white cell production.
Transfusions: Red cells and platelets as needed.
Antibiotics and antifungals: Prophylactic or therapeutic use to prevent sepsis.
3. Internal Contamination Treatment
If radioactive particles are inhaled, ingested, or enter wounds, specific agents are used:
Potassium Iodide (KI): Blocks radioactive iodine from being absorbed by the thyroid. Must be taken within hours of exposure.
Prussian Blue: Binds cesium and thallium in the gut, enhancing excretion.
DTPA (Diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid): Chelates plutonium, americium, and curium, aiding in their removal via urine.
4. Supportive Care
IV fluids: Prevent dehydration and support renal clearance.
Pain management: Especially for burns and GI symptoms.
Nutritional support: High-calorie, high-protein intake to support healing.
Psychological care: Trauma, grief, and anxiety will be rampant.
 
Preparedness Is the Only Cure
In a nuclear event, chaos will reign. Hospitals will be overwhelmed. Supplies will dwindle. The only way to survive is to prepare now—with knowledge, with stockpiles, and with a plan.
This isn’t fearmongering. It’s reality. And in that reality, the difference between life and death may come down to what you know—and what you have on hand.
 
Get gear, supplies, and more knowledge at survivalschoolmichigan.com

Nuclear Survival 101: Essential Steps to Stay Alive and Survive the Aftermath of a Nuclear Detonation

by

In a world where tensions are high and the threat of nuclear conflict looms large, being prepared for the unthinkable is more crucial than ever. Recent global events have shown us just how volatile our times are, with nations flexing their nuclear muscles and the specter of war casting a long shadow. This article is your no nonsense guide to surviving a nuclear bomb detonation in the U.S. We’ll cut through the noise and give you the hard facts and practical steps you need to protect yourself and your loved ones when the worst happens. Stay sharp, stay safe, and be ready for anything.

On Foot: Get behind cover and lay face down to protect yourself from thermal damage and projectiles. Do NOT look at the blast, doing so will blind you.

Driving: If you are driving when a nuke goes off but are not near ground zero, consider yourself fortunate that you did not get vaporized. Again, do NOT look at the blast as doing so can blind you. If you can help it, you want to be upwind or crosswind of the nuclear fallout. Downwind is the worst place to be because the fallout is coming your way. If you are downwind of the blast, you have approximately 15-20 minutes before the fallout starts raining down on top of you in the form of radioactive dust and particles. Shut off your air circulation system in your vehicle and close the vents. Seek shelter immediately.  

Seek Underground Shelter: Find a building made of dense material, like brick or concrete, preferably with a concrete basement. Situate yourself in an interior room away from windows and other walls. The deeper underground you get the better. Radiation levels significantly decrease the lower you go. Choose a corner of the basement that is most below ground level and away from outer walls and the roof. These spots are where radioactive material tends to collect the most. Increase shielding along walls and create a barrier wall in front of the door leading into the room, this can improve shielding from radiation. Think of the downstairs basement of an office with metal shelving and old books and manuals. Use all of this as shielding. Hunker in the basement for 72 hours, as the radiation levels will reduce until they are 1% of their initial value. Using plastic sheeting and duct tape, seal up all air vents, door cracks, etc. Another option for this type of shelter would be a homemade bunker made of sandbags. The sandbags must be at least 3 ft deep to stop radiation.

Decontaminate: Peel off the clothes you were wearing, they could be containing deadly radiation and fallout. Wash any exposed skin. Better yet, take a shower. Contaminated clothes need to go into a quarantined plastic bag and removed. If you must go outside again you PPE.

Supplies: Unfortunately, you were on the road for work and not at your survival retreat in Michigan’s U.P., stocked with 20 years’ worth of food and enough ammo to fight WW3. You will have to look around for what you can eat. Is there a refrigerator? Is there a nearby vending machine you could bust the glass out of? If you have them, take potassium iodide (KI) tablets to protect your thyroid. If you don’t have these tablets, rub a tincture of iodine on your stomach about the size of a basketball.

Communication: Find a radio if possible and listen for further instructions.

 

Contact us if you have additional questions about a class! [email protected]
Copyright 2022 Arcturus Primitive Skills Institute  | All Rights Reserved