U.S. Armed Forces Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Survival Manual: Everything You Need to Know to Protect Yourself and Your Family from the Growing Terrorist Threat

by Dick Couch

In an era of geopolitical instability, terrorism, and the threat of a North Korean missile attack, military experts teach you how to survive the worst-case scenarios we all dreadIf a dirty bomb explodes three miles from your home, will you know what to do? If a nerve agent is released into a train or building, can you be safe? The U.S. Armed Forces Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Survival Manual gives you the information you need to survive a terrorist attack. It contains the best practices of all the United States' military services, adapted for the first time for civilian use. With this manual, you will be able to take action to protect your family and loved ones, whether you are just beginning to think about the possibility of attack, or are well along the path of equipping yourself against a nuclear, biological, or chemical strike.This manual will show you how to: Protect yourself during a chemical or biological attack.Guard against the radiological effects of a "dirty bomb."Assist victims of nuclear, chemical or biological agents.Recognize the indicators of nuclear, chemical and biological attack.Develop a simple and effective family action plan.Assemble and store the everyday materials that could save your life.Help first responders and local authorities in the event of a terrorist attack.

Genres: Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Survival, Reference, War

Audio CD

First published April 1, 2003

About the author

Mr. Couch graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1967. He graduated from BUD/S training in Class 45 in 1969. He was a case officer for the CIA.

Reviews

[cellomerl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Published in 2003 when the world was surfing on a tidal wave of fear over terrorism, this book is a bit dated. It’s got a lot of general information about survival tactics in emergencies, and whether the attack is nuclear, chemical or biological, the basics are the same...stay inside, keep your mouth covered, wash your hands with soap and water, get low to the ground, underneath big stuff if possible. The illustrations are very poor, and the author has a sort of deadly serious paranoia about the possibility of imminent terrorist attacks. There are recommendations for some quite elaborate preparations for the inevitable doomsday scenario.
At that time, we were still reeling over September 11, sarin gas attacks in the Tokyo subway, the second gulf war with its threat of WMDs, and anthrax-in-the-mail scares. So the book was apropos as the time. But it makes for surprisingly dull reading now.
Oddly enough, when I got to the appendices with descriptions of the effects of various chemical and biological agents, things started to get more interesting, but the author kind of spoiled it by injecting fifty-cent words every second sentence that I had to keep looking up because I’m not a medic. A book that’s intended for the layman doesn’t need exhaustive descriptions of technical specs for gas masks or medical-manual words. Don’t use a Greek word when a Norman one will do. 😹

[Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't as in depth as something which is solely and specifically about this one topic should have been. Granted there is more info in the appendix, but, I don't want to have to keep flipping back and pausing the read to get useful info on every subject. I get it that it's for people who don't have any background or experience with the subject; but still, it's good to know specifics if your trying to learn the subject at all. Plus, I found the audiobook, so I was unable to pull up the PDF on the phone most of the time while listening in the car.

Otherwise, it was well-written grammatically, etc. Couch did do his usual good job of breaking down mil-speak and med-speak into lay terms. He also did a good job of making the case for why it is important to at least have some understanding of the subject, specifically the history of chem and bio weapon usage (much more often than most people realize).

[Joel Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a pro-US military book written in 2003. That said, provided you cross-check statements (and do some post-2003 research updates), it's not a bad-bad book. I found the appendixes fun, if only to read about how many ways there are to die. Also got to look up a lot of medical terminology...not written for laypeople without internet/dictionary [I say that only because if there's a significant attack, it'd be hard to comprehend this book (because of the jargon) post-internet].

[Andrew Ferree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent information with a small smattering of fear mongering.

[Rich Maneri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too technical - not interested in the types of suits offered by the military.