As I write this article with a heavy heart and temporary uncertainty, my concerned and troubled mind wonders when Nigeria will eventually overcome this evil insurgence that has taken over almost completely. I hate to listen to the news everyday because it is usually saddening and heartbreaking. Bad news everywhere, slaughtering, massacre, bloodbaths, kidnapping, bombings and shootings not to talk of the inability of an average Nigerian to afford the basic things of life: food, clothing and shelter. As at now, nearly 300,000 Nigerians have been displaced from their comfort zones in the north eastern part of Nigeria, thousands of people have been forced to their early graves. Their horror filled faces, their struggles, their confusion, their innocence yet they still met their untimely deaths. I have decided to share what I have learnt about bombs, not that I have come to accept the situation in Nigeria as I strongly hope for a change and a restoration.
A bomb is a case filled with explosive material and set off by a detonating device or by impact. A nuclear blast is an explosion with intense light and heat ,a damaging pressure wave and widespread radioactive material that can contaminate the air, water and ground surfaces for miles around. A nuclear device can range from a weapon carried by an intercontinental missile launched by a hostile nation or terrorist organization, to a small portable nuclear device transported by an individual.
All nuclear devices cause deadly effects when exploded, including blinding light, intense heat (thermal radiation), initial nuclear radiation, blast fires started by the heat pulse and secondary fires caused by the destruction.
A bomb is a nuclear device and its hazard effects is defined by:
Its size, its nature, its height and existing meteorological conditions e.g. Wind speed & direction, precipitation etc. One of the most prominent effect of a blast is a radioactive fallout.
A radioactive fallout occurs when millions of vaporized dirt particles drawn into the cloud during a blast condense and fall back into the earth as the heat diminishes. Even if individuals are not close enough to the nuclear blast to be affected by the impacts, they maybe affected by radioactive fallout. Any nuclear blast including bomb blast results in some fallout, these fallouts maybe carried by wind currents for hundred of miles and its effects can be potentially deadly.
In addition to other effects, a nuclear weapon detonated in or above the earth surface can create an electromagnetic impulse (EMP). This EMP acts like a stroke of lightning but is stronger, faster and shorter. Although EMP is unlikely to harm most people it could harm those with implanted electronic devices.
How then can one be protected from a nuclear blast? Terrorism by nature is unpredictable so is a nuclear blast. If there were threat of an attack, people living near potential targets are advised to evacuate or they could decide on their own to evacuate to an area not considered a target, potential targets include
• Strategic missile sites & military bases
• Centres of government
• Important transportation & communication centres
• Manufacturing, industrial technology & financial centres
• Petroleum refineries, electrical power plants & chemical plants
• Major ports and airfields
Nowadays, even large religious gatherings are susceptible to attacks.
The 3 factors for protecting oneself are distance, shielding & time. During a blast
• Take cover as quickly as you can, below ground if possible and stay there until instructed to do otherwise. An underground home suchas a basement is more protective than the first floor of a building. Flat roofs collect fallout particles so the top floor is not a good choice.
If you are caught outside and unable to get inside immediately
• Do not look at the flash or fireball. It can blind you.
• Take cover behind anything that might offer protection
• Lie flat on the ground and cover your head. If the explosion is some distance away it could take 3secs or more for the blast wave to hit.
• On the part of the Government, the various security personnel e.g. the police anti-bomb squad should take proactive measures to protect citizens since there are known targets.
• Finally prayers work wonders. Lets not discard the importance of prayers in situations like this.
This is not to say that our total safety is guaranteed but injuries sustained might be reduced.
Ff @ o_ponmile
brownymails@yahoo.com
oluwaponmileorija@yahoo.com
2 comments:
Nice write up Ponmile. I'm beginning to believe that these waves of attacks is more politically motivated than religious.
Exhales*...seriously, thumbs up 4u. Nice write-up. And thanks 4d piece of advice even though we dnt pray for it.
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