PART D - CROSSING A FALLOUT AREA
It may be necessary to cross an area in which there is residual radiation.
This occasion might arise in exploitation of our own surface bursts or in
retrograde or offensive operations coupled with enemy-delivered surface
bursts. In nuclear warfare it is possible that extensive areas will be made
residually radioactive.
These areas will be habitable eventually, but
operations in these areas will be complicated because of the necessity for
keeping to a minimum the total dose that will be received by our troops.
1.
Commander's Questions.
The problem of crossing a contaminated area, from a command point of view,
is essentially, "If I cross the area, what is the risk involved?" In
general, the primary objective is to accomplish the desired mission while
keeping the total dose as low as possible consistent with the mission.
Exposure may be minimized by keeping the stay time as short as possible, by
delaying the entry time as long as possible, by providing shielding, and by
avoiding the contaminated area. The selection of one of these actions, or
any combination, is dependent upon the operational situation at the time,
knowledge of the location, and extent of dose rate contours within the
fallout area.
A consideration of the radiation exposure involved will
influence route selection.
The shortest route, or the route that can be
traversed most quickly, provides the minimum stay time. If possible, routes
through areas of lowest dose rates should be selected. The use of tanks,
armored vehicles, or sandbags on the floors and sides of cargo trucks will
provide shielding and reduce the total dose received by personnel.
2.
Average Dose Rate.
In analyzing the problem of crossing a contaminated area, it is evident that
the dose rate will increase as the center of the area is approached than
will decrease beyond the center of the area and as the far side is
approached. When individuals or units are required to cross a contaminated
area, it is necessary to determine an average dose rate to be used in
predictions of total dose. The average dose rate represents a mean value to
which the individual is exposed during the time of stay.
A reasonable
approximation of the average dose rate (R1avg) in crossing a fallout area
can be obtained by dividing the maximum dose rate (R1max) encountered, or
expected to be encountered, by two.
5-17
CM5206
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