Instruction Manual

NukAlert Operating Manual
What is the NukAlert and What does it do?
The NukAlert is a calibrated radiation meter that alarms when exposed to dangerous levels of
nuclear radiation. It does not respond to relatively safe, low level radiation. Its primary utility is to aid
in the location and evaluation of shelter during a radiation emergency. It may also be used to verify
the reduction of radiation during evacuation. The NukAlert indicates radiation exposure by
producing groups of audible alarm chirps about twice per minute. The number of chirps per group is
easily counted. The approximate radiation intensity is indicated by the number of chirps produced per
group. The lowest indicated level of radiation (0.1 Roentgen per hour) will cause a single chirp every
35 seconds. With each doubling of the radiation intensity an additional chirp is added to each alarm
chirp group. At 0.2 R/hr the unit will double chirp every 30 seconds. At 0.4 R/hr it will chirp three
times in a row, repeating every 25 seconds, etc. At the highest level (above 50 R/hr) the alarm will
change to an uninterrupted series of siren-like sounds that become shorter and more frequent if the
exposure rate continues to increase.
What is a Roentgen?
A Roentgen (R) is an amount of radiation. It is about 1% of the amount that is the threshold for
radiation sickness. In other words, if a healthy adult does not exceed a doseof 100 Roentgens
received in a short time (days) they are unlikely to experience radiation sickness, which is 100%
survivable, if not exceeded. "Very few of those receiving acute doses (received within 24 hours) of
less than 100 R would become sick, even briefly."
NWSS
While govt agencies advise to try to limit your
normal exposure to 5 rad per year and 25 rad for lifetime and emergency workers to 50
rad.
10 11
(Lower limits for children & fetuses.) in a widespread nuclear emergency staying under 100
rads for healthy adults is survivable and does not require aggressive medical attention.
Receiving more than 500 R within a few days is more likely to be fatal, even with aggressive medical
treatment. The dose rate at which the dose is received is expressed as Roentgens per hour (R/hr).
Think of the dose as miles and the dose rate as miles per hour. The chart on the back of the
NukAlert shows the radiation dose rate associated with each number of alarm chirps per group. The
far right column shows the amount of time (d-days, h-hours) that one could receive the given dose rate
before a dose of 100 R was accumulated.