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Ask HN: I live near a nuclear reactor. How do I stay safe?

3 points by quantumpotato_ ↗ HN
See title. Potassium iodide in case the ground shakes? I messaged Safecast [0] about getting their equipment to investigate further.

Are lead shields any useful?

[0] http://safecast.org

7 comments

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andrewcooke
don't travel in a car. exercise, but don't do dangerous sports. eat sensibly. live with a partner or pet dog.
dsq
And don't smoke, burning tobacco releases radiation.
tokenadult
Worry will kill you faster than a nuclear power plant will.
jlengrand
I lived close form a nuclear plant for years (in France). I know when you move in, the city gives you a set of Potassium iodide pills. They tell you to ingest them if you hear the firemen's horn 9 times straight.

Good thing is that there are way more water/plants/animal testing for radiation close to nuclear plants than others. So you actually are quite sure to eat healthier than in more remote areas with less controls.

Last risk is explosion/fission/big problem. Well in this case, common sense tells me that I would prefer live close by and enjoy the white light for a few milliseconds than live 200 kms away and die slowly :s.

codemonkeymike
Are you trying to advertise safecast? When was the last time you heard of a reactor issue in your life, aside from the one being built on the "Ring of Fire".