One word - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
If you are in a sealed room, even a house with all the outside openings taped and sealed shut, you are limiting the amount of air coming in - that's what you want to be protected. Combustion of ANY type consumes oxygen. So do you. The very real possibility is that you would convert your "safe" room into a gas chamber if you have any type of open flame, even a candle.

I live in Phoenix (actually Scottsdale) Arizona...Three million and growing. In the winter/spring, there are also lots of tourists.. If something were to happen, I don't think it would be feasible to get out of town. Plus, you would be "out in it" exposed to whatever contaminate. That's why I feel I would probably hunker down, and wait 6-8 hours. I am still torn about covering one room or the entire condo. [color:"green"] [/color]

What's a BOB?

like all others said, do NOT burn anything in a sealed room !!
if you want warmed, use non-oxygon consuming heating, like chemical heating pads and if you want to warm food use chemical heating pads like supplies with MRE"s ( millitary rations ).

**** do NOT use chemical heaters, they consume oxyon 2 apparently (read next post)****

BOB= bug out bag
A bag ( orr something else ) with survival suplies with's can be grabed fast, wenn you have to bug out.

Ouch! Be careful. MRE heaters usually have instructions warning against using too many in a HMVEE, tent or other enclosed non-ventilated area due to the (non-breathable) hydrogen (I believe?) they give off. Using these in a sealed room is not a good idea. <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

As for chemical heaters, there are some which begin to warm up merely upon contact with air, as soon as the package is opened. These contain iron which oxidizes rapidly, releasing heat. They last for hours, which is great, but they require oxygen because they use it up. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> When oxidation happens fast enough, we call it flame. When it is very slow, we call it rust. When it happens fast enough to release heat, but not fast enough to release flame, we call it a really cool effect of modern chemistry which lets us make nifty hand & body warmers. But no matter what, it is oxidation and that means it is using up the oxygen by binding it with something, in this case iron. And yes, it gives off CO, just like flame, though perhaps less? (I don't know.)

The only chemical heaters I know of which would be safe are the reusable gel-filled heat pads that have a small metal disc in them. The disc is slightly concave/convex and you "pop" it by pushing it to be convex/concave (the opposite way). The shockwave created in the gel by this kinetic pop causes the gel to begin to crystalize rapidly. As it does, it gives off heat. Once solidified, it ceases to give of heat. You can return the crystalized gel to a liquid state by boiling the gel-pack for a little while. They are good for many repeat uses. The chemical reaction in these types of heaters does not involve oxidation and does not use up any oxygen. The problem with these is they last a half hour or so. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

The best way to stay warm in such a situation might be to somehow filter your central heat air. That may take more engineering and construction than many of us would likely be willing to devote to it. The next best way might probably be to snuggle up with your loved ones under some blankets. Come to think of it, maybe that's the best way.

Stay safe,
J.T.

whoops.. <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> learned something again...

snuggle up with your loved ones under some blankets should work, unless they do some "activities" that would use more oxyon 2 than you want <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

There are three threats that may force you to consider sheltering in place, chemical, biological, and nuclear dispersal device.

The first is a chemical agent and nerve agents are the predominant threat. Nerve agents are either persistent (VX) or not (soman, sarin, and tabun). Non persistent agents evaporate in a short time or simply blow away if a vapor. A safe room would provide the needed shelter for these agents. VX is a persistent agent and as such does not readily vaporize, so presents no vapor threat.

It is unlikely that a chemical agent could be effectively applied in an open urban environment by terrorists. These agents are far more effective in a closed system.

The Israelis recommend safe rooms to protect against the use of military weapons (ie missiles or bombs with chemical warheads).

Biological agents can either be contagious or not, that is be transmitted between people. Unfortunately, some agents, like Anthrax, are quite resistent to exposure to sunlight, etc. It is unlikely that sheltering would be very effective in protecting against most pathogens.

Radiologic dispersal devices spread radioactive materials that cause an increased lifetime risk of cancer for the most part, rather than cause a threat of immediate injury or death.

If an RDD is detonated, decisions would need to be made regarding acceptable levels of risk from exposure in regards to long term cancer risks.

Hope this helps.

If you llive on the edge of town and have several alternate roads available then feel good about hauling out of there. I live just within an expressway loop that has nothing but swampy Everglades on the other side, with no alternate roads. Knowing that during hurricane evacs there is high congestion and sometimes gridlock - I think that we will stay put and ride it out unless downtown is a nuked out crater. Actually with nuke half lives being what they are it may be okay to just stay indoors for a few days and take the potassium iodide tablets. Even the local health food store sells them now. The last place I want to be is exposed on the roads. As for plastic sheeting the whole condo - if it's a serious enough threat I doubt you'd have that much time. I'd rather do one room very very well. Regards, Keys

Thanks so much for your response...Yeah, I don't think I could get out of town with all these people. I would be sitting in traffic with all the junk in the air. I was thinking of covering the condo windows ahead of time, with half the window covering folded back & taped or clipped...then, I would only have to fasten the opening in a hurry. What do you mean by nuke half lives??

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