“They know something”: the British were given recommendations in case of the outbreak of World War III

UK health chiefs have issued guidance on what to do in the event of a radiation accident amid growing fears of World War III. Britons could be ordered to strip down to their underwear if they are exposed to radiation outdoors. Local media are asking, “Do they know something we don’t?”

If there is a “radiation emergency” in the UK, Britons will be told to “go indoors, stay at home, tune in”, according to new advice from health chiefs.

According to the Daily Mail, the guidance was published on Friday by the UK Health Safety Authority (UKHSA). This comes amid growing global tensions involving nuclear powers such as China and Russia, the newspaper notes, recalling how last year Russian television even simulated how a nuclear attack on London could be carried out, declaring that there would be “no survivors.”

Although the UKHSA document does not mention nuclear weapons, it explains what Britons should do in the event of a “radiation emergency”, which could be caused by a leak at a nuclear power station or during the transport of radioactive materials.

The main advice is to get indoors as soon as possible, with health leaders saying this can reduce radiation exposure by up to 85 percent compared to being outdoors.

Staying indoors also reduces the amount of radioactive material inhaled by 40%, the recommendation says. While some buildings are better than others, staying indoors in any way possible should be a priority, health officials say. “Buildings made of brick, stone, concrete or similar materials provide the best protection, but being inside any building is better than being outside,” it says. “If you are already inside a building, stay there.”

The document warns that Britons may be advised to stay indoors for up to two days – a procedure called “sheltering in place” – to reduce further potential exposure.

People who were outside and close to the emergency site were at risk of contaminating their clothing, skin and hair.

As a result, they may be advised to self-decontaminate, which involves removing clothing, which removes 90% of any contaminants, and taking a shower.

Once granted asylum, Britons should follow official government advice on what to do next, whether through radio, television, internet, social media or the police, UKHSA says.

Apart from incidents at nuclear power stations or during the transport of radioactive material, the UKHSA recognizes that in the event of an emergency overseas, material may enter the UK, depending on weather conditions.

A similar incident has already happened in British history, the Daily Mail recalls. On April 26, 1986, an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the then Soviet Union carried radioactive materials on the wind to Western Europe. Although much of the fallout was cleared up, the UK was not completely unaffected. Mountain areas of Wales, Cumbria, Scotland and Northern Ireland reported the heaviest fallout of radioactive material in the UK from the disaster.

Irradiation led to the slaughter of sheep, the meat of which was found to contain significant amounts of radioactive substances.

Health care managers may also use iodine tablets afterwards. The pills block damage to the thyroid gland, a gland in the neck that secretes hormones vital to regulating metabolism.

The new UKHSA guidance also sets out the potential for long-term measures to protect public health after a radiation accident.

If radiation levels in certain regions are considered dangerous, people may be forced to leave their homes either temporarily or, in extreme cases, “permanently.”

Similar measures were taken in other countries facing nuclear disaster. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate when the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan released dangerous amounts of radiation after it was damaged by a devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 2011. Some residents returned to their homes only last year, almost 12 years after the disaster.

High or prolonged radiation exposure comes with a number of potential immediate and long-term health risks, writes the Daily Mail. The radiation, which cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, can burn the skin in the event of an atomic blast and damage tissue deeper in the body, causing a condition called radiation sickness. In the long term, exposure to food and water contaminated with radioactive materials may increase the risk of developing cancer.