The UK government has issued nuclear attack preparedness guidance advising which specific buildings offer the best protection from radiation, and what to do to keep yourself safe. The advice comes after the Kremlin issued fresh warnings of unleashing its massive nuclear arsenal on the UK.
Kremlin's warning and UK response
Russia was furious to discover that British-made long-range drones were deployed in Ukrainian strikes deep within Russian territory and threatened retaliation. "The United Kingdom is acting as an accomplice and co-perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks committed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis," warned the Russian Embassy in London in a statement on August 17.
"London's actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer ... The deeper its involvement in the conflict and the greater its support of Kiev's terrorist machinery, the higher the price it will pay."
Best buildings for shelter
Should Vladimir Putin make good on his threat, the UK government has released instructions on seeking protection should bombs hit Britain, particularly nuclear weapons. People should instantly find sanctuary within a building - though they must be choosy about what kind of building they pick.
The advice given was: "Go into any building as soon as possible. Buildings made of brick, stone, concrete or similar materials provide the best protection, but being inside any building is better than being outside. If you are already inside a building, stay there."
Staying safe indoors
In the event of a radiation emergency, everyone should remain indoors and maintain a safe distance from windows to limit exposure to radiation. It's also recommended to turn off all fans and air conditioning units and shut all external doors, windows and vents where possible. It's likely that your time indoors will last one or two days.
The government also emphasises the significance of "tuning in." It advised: "Monitor the news and follow official UK advice on GOV.UK for what to do next. Any changes to advice will be communicated to you via official sources - this may be via the radio, television, internet, social media or the police."
"Emergency services and local authorities will provide information about what has happened and what you should do. This may be provided via the radio, television, internet, social media or the police."
Following official advice
What you need to do to protect yourself will depend on where you are in relation to where the radiation emergency is, so it is essential to follow the advice provided where you are. Radiation cannot be seen, heard, smelt, tasted or felt, so it is important that you follow the advice given to you, even if you can't tell that anything has happened.
If you are overseas, follow the local official advice. You may be advised by the emergency services to evacuate, and you should be prepared to do this, if needed, following advice issued for your area. You should not evacuate unless advised to do so, as leaving shelter may increase your exposure to radiation.
"If a radiation emergency happens outside the UK, it is very unlikely that you will need to do anything different from normal if you are in the UK at the time. Any official advice for the UK public will be given on the television, radio, internet or social media."
