(5)
Eating and Drinking in a Fallout Area.
Personnel should consume no food and water that has not been stored in
sealed containers. Before they open the containers, they should wash
or brush off any fallout; they should then have the containers
monitored.
Personnel should not consume food left in open containers because it
is likely to be contaminated. They can eat fruits and vegetables with
tough skins, however, if they can wash the food well, remove the skin,
and monitor the remaining portion.
The supply and service unit should provide clean water. However, if
no uncontaminated water is available, personnel can filter
contaminated water through a column of earth and use it sparingly
until clean water becomes available (see FM 3-3).
b. Reaction When Warned of a Nuclear Attack.
When warned of an impending friendly nuclear attack, units can make
defensive preparations that will lessen casualties.
(1)
Preparation of Shelter.
The best defense against nuclear attack is to dig in. Whenever the
tactical situation permits, units should prepare their defensive
positions, which vary from individual foxholes to improved defensive
positions.
Certain common materials and types of construction will provide good
shielding against gamma radiation and neutrons and will also provide
protection against the blast and heat of a nuclear detonation.
Foxholes, natural and man-made shelters, armored vehicles, and
reinforced buildings provide defense against nuclear weapons.
(a)
Foxholes.
A properly constructed foxhole offers excellent protection against
both initial and residual radiation, because dirt is a good shielding
material. A deep foxhole gives more protection than a shallow one
because of the greater thickness of the shielding material and the
greater reduction of the initial radiation entering the hole. An
overhead covering of earth or other material (Figure 1-4) will reduce
the amount of thermal and initial nuclear radiation that reaches the
individual; it will also prevent the entrance of fallout. A sturdily
constructed cover will withstand the blast wave.
1-17
IS0345
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