Show CIVIL DEFENSE NOTES Radiation sickness is neither contagious nor infectious Fallout radiation cannot make anything radioactive Food and water that have been exposed exposed exposed ex ex- ex- ex posed to fallout radiation are contaminated only to the extent extent extent ex ex- tent that they contain fallout particles Exposed food that may have particles on it can be made safe by washing brushing or peeling Fallout particles can be removed from water supplies by sedimentation tion or filtering People who have fallout particles on their bodies or clothing probably would not carry enough to endanger endanger endanger en en- danger other people but they should wash themselves for their own protection Following a nuclear attack the radioactive elements in fallout would decay rapidly losing most of their power to harm However for some time thereafter the hazard could continue to restrict normal activities activities activities ac ac- ac- ac in some parts of the country A few elements such as strontium 90 90 cesium and nd carbon 14 14 are long long lived lived and could harm humans in some ways such as by being absorbed by food plants However How ever the thc term long damaging effects of such exposure are not yet known in great detail detail de de- tail |