The heat blast from the explosion is very powerful; up close, it can cause 3rd degree burns and even death. As the heat travels from the center of the explosion, it gets weaker. The heat can affect people many miles from the explosion.
Burn Level
Percent County
Description
First Degree
5.96%
High rate (80%) of first degree burns for those outside. Symptoms include:
Pain
Redness
Almost no fatalities from burns
Eye damage or blindness possible if looking in direction of blast
Second Degree
4.37%
High rate (80%) of second degree burns for those outside. Symptoms include:
Persistent pain
Blisters
Swelling
Scarring
Nerve damage
Possibility of infection
Flash burns to eyes possible if looking in direction of blast
Some fatalities from burns
Eye damage or blindness possible if looking in direction of blast
Newspapers, leaves, rotting wood ignite
Third Degree
10.54%
High rate (80%) of third degree burns for those outside. Symptoms include:
Damage to underlying muscle and bone
Possible charring
Severe scarring
Severe nerve damage
Probable infection
Shock
Medium to high rate of fatalities from burns
Eye damage or blindness possible if looking in direction of blast
The shock wave is most damaging at the site of the explosion. It acts like a very strong, very fast wind. Close to the explosion, it can topple skyscrapers and overturn vehicles. People are injured or killed when buildings collapse. The effect gets weaker the farther the shock wave travels from the center of the blast. The shock wave can be felt many miles from the explosion.
Shockwave Pressure
Percent County
Description
1 PSI
29.00%
Windows shatter
Some trees knocked down
Roof damage to many buildings
Injuries mainly from flying glass or small objects
The area close to the blast will be hit by powerful gamma rays. These gamma rays don't travel very far before becoming too weak to be dangerous. When living organisms are hit by gamma ray radiation, the effects can be harmful or fatal.
The explosion sucks up bits of the ground around the bomb, carries them high into the air, blasts them into tiny particles and irradiates them. These particles can be carried hundreds, or even thousands of miles, as they slowly drift down to earth in a a "fallout cloud." Where the cloud passes and lands, it showers radioactivity. Exposure to uncontrolled radioactivity can be harmful to living organisms. Because winds are very unpredictable, the fallout information shown here is based upon the average winds. Small changes in the wind can cause large changes in the results.
Month of Blast
Average Total Rad.*
Description
January
350 Rads
50% fatal.
Death (if occurs) in 2 to 12 weeks.
Nausea, loss of appetite
Malaise, fatigue
Hair loss
Digestive upset
Temporary male sterility
Probable permanent female sterility
More susceptible to illness and infection
Medical care required
Treatment: blood transfusions, antibiotics
February
360 Rads
50% fatal.
Death (if occurs) in 2 to 12 weeks.
Nausea, loss of appetite
Malaise, fatigue
Hair loss
Digestive upset
Temporary male sterility
Probable permanent female sterility
More susceptible to illness and infection
Medical care required
Treatment: blood transfusions, antibiotics
March
380 Rads
50% fatal.
Death (if occurs) in 2 to 12 weeks.
Nausea, loss of appetite
Malaise, fatigue
Hair loss
Digestive upset
Temporary male sterility
Probable permanent female sterility
More susceptible to illness and infection
Medical care required
Treatment: blood transfusions, antibiotics
April
1800 Rads
100% fatal
Death within hours or days
May
1900 Rads
100% fatal
Death within hours or days
June
790 Rads
90% to 100% fatal.
Death (if occurs) in 1 to 6 weeks
Nausea, loss of appetite
Malaise, fatigue
Hair loss
Life-threatening digestive upset
Internal bleeding
Temporary male sterility
Permanent female sterility
More susceptible to illness and infection
Intense medical care required
Treatment: bone marrow transplant
July
160 Rads
Nausea
Low incidence of death
Temporary reduced immune system functioning
Temporary male sterility
More susceptible to illness and infection
Medical supervision suggested
August
180 Rads
Nausea
Low incidence of death
Temporary reduced immune system functioning
Temporary male sterility
More susceptible to illness and infection
Medical supervision suggested
September
380 Rads
50% fatal.
Death (if occurs) in 2 to 12 weeks.
Nausea, loss of appetite
Malaise, fatigue
Hair loss
Digestive upset
Temporary male sterility
Probable permanent female sterility
More susceptible to illness and infection
Medical care required
Treatment: blood transfusions, antibiotics
October
430 Rads
60 to 90% fatal.
Death (if occurs) in 2 to 12 weeks.
Nausea, loss of appetite
Malaise, fatigue
Hair loss
Serious digestive upset
Temporary male sterility
Permanent female sterility
More susceptible to illness and infection
Intense medical care required
Treatment: blood transfusions, antibiotics
November
280 Rads
35% fatal
Death (if occurs) in 2 to 12 weeks
Nausea, loss of appetite
Malaise, fatigue
Temporary reduced immune system functioning
Temporary male sterility
More susceptible to illness and infection
Medical care required
Treatment: blood transfusions, antibiotics
December
190 Rads
Nausea
Low incidence of death
Temporary reduced immune system functioning
Temporary male sterility
More susceptible to illness and infection
Medical supervision suggested
* = The average fallout received in a one month period following the blasts. Certain areas may receive more or less depending on winds and other factors.
Shaken