Since a lot of people seem worried about radiation

On television tonight they said that we would be doing better to donate the money we might spend on potassium iodide to relief in Japan. One doctor said that it is not good for you to take this unless you have had direct exposure. I had a friend that was raised near where the US tested nuclear bombs. She had thyroid cancer and recurring issues because of it.

Radiation is absorbed and distributed throughout your body by your thyroid gland. Potassium iodide prevents that from happening. I saw some on Amazon for over $400 but most are about $9 for 14 pills, or 7 days supply. I tried to find out how to make it myself but you have to have it to make it so might as well buy the pills!

Does it help if your food is contaminated by radiation? Our weather patterns come from that direction don't they? I don't trust the authorities to tell the truth when it comes to stuff like this. Their main concern is to keep panic from happening. I'm going to get some and read up on this a bit. I hope I am wrong.

Well, they are chemicals and very stable ones at that, apparently. It's good to know that I have a ready supply but I would like to get some fresh ones all the same. The assurance that they are safe comes from government sources and I trust the government about as far as I can throw it. But it makes sense that they would have a very long shelf life. I think if they were exposed to extreme heat for any length of time they would break down but I've always been careful about where I stored them. It's good to have something like that at home, especially if you have children--which is why I got them in the first place.

Hiya dragon, As far as I know we have not got any here at all not that kind of thing to take. No one has even suggested it either. So it´s a good job that I can get to know about these things on here. If the Government says they are okay then they must be. You´re right as well they would need to be very stable and have long shelf life. It only makes sense really. Thanks very much for that information though I would never even have thought of it.

Just knowing that so many millions are concerned for them must lift their spirits. Thank you for donating!

It's a very sad situation and would not have happened if not for the tsunami, I don't think. I hope they recover quickly.

The media's job is to sensationalize everything they report. They are withholding facts in order to get people all upset, not reporting background facts and the real consequences of a "meltdown". I just thought to report this to ease some fears some may be feeling. I was concerned about my tablets and almost threw them out. We depend on the media too much and too little on our own brains and resources.

Please relax. A "meltdown" merely means that the thing burns within its containment housing. There is little danger of radiation flying around the earth.

Yes, I think you have the right attitude. If it's going to be like that, it's really not worth taking extraordinary measures to survive. I do have a basement 10 feet underground filled with all those things you suggested. Most people forget about laying in a water supply and pet food, as well as medications and first aid stuff. I think I would hang on for the children, though. There are many small children and young adults under 18 here whose parents make no preparations. I have no delusions that my supplies will be only for me, I could not help but share. That will probably end badly but it may enable one or two children to make it who will insure that such a thing never happens again. Then again, it might all be over in 2012. Who knows? Life is an adventure.

$400.00 a bottle...that is plain, unadulterated usuary! I truly have a dislike for person's like that that take advantage of a situation like this...where the Public is in panic. Cruel, self-propelled egoist. I "hold the key" to your life! Truly, was afraid to say, what you have said in your last statement, but it is honestly how I feel, too. I would decease, anyway, as I really am reliant on my property.....AND, I KNOW, I could NOT live happily ever after, without my pets. WHAT DO WE GIVE THEM....to protect their thyroid glands???? I actually have a call into my Vet, as my darling old kitty, Curlew, has had a stroke..he does not seem to be in any form of pain...but I am going to ask her, is there an anti-dote for our dearly loved "furry friends" as well? Have a stupendously long day of work ahead of me...but if you do any research on pets...and protection from radiation..it would be wonderful if you post a discussion and I will soooooooo THANKFUL! My day is going to be about 16 hours, and I am not good at those hours at my age. THANK YOU...and Take care!

The media is pushing people into a panic! Unfortunately, the media doesn't tell them that you don't take those things in preparation, but when the event happens and only if the radiation comes your way. And most people won't research the side effects of potassium iodide, they just panic. I saw one bottle on Amazon for $400!! I'm not at all sure that I'd want to survive after a radiation incident, depending on how bad it was. It would affect crops, water people and animals. It would be a grim future if one lived but could not drink the water or live off the land.

Be sure to tell them not to take the pills unless there is a real and present danger! The chemicals might protect you from radiation poisoning but also have some side effects that can be quite serious. There are some people on our west coast that are taking the pills even though no radiation is even close to this country and some of them are becoming ill. The pills are only for use in case of the presence of radiation! Have a wonderful day!

That's all well and good and I agree that we should do as much naturally as possible but where are you going to get those foods when radiation is everywhere? Go out and pick some broccoli, it's loaded with radioactivity. That's assuming it happens during growing season, of course. My point is not to ridicule the idea but to point out that humans are not the only ones exposed to radiation. Pills are not irradiated, at least. Thankfully, the amount of radiation they are finding in California is less than the people in Denver are exposed to every day. There is no danger at this time.

Thats what the media is good at! Remember Y2K......yeah, being a first responder/firefighter, we were all requested to standby at our stations, all stations had to be manned, paid or volunteer didn't matter. Yeah, we ended up playing cards til the wee hours of the morning, and nothing absolutely nothing happened.

Don't be discouraged. Japan has it largely contained and I just posted this because my country, the United States, has people that are getting hysterical over the whole thing. The news feeds in this country are preying on their fears.