Q: What is the Purpose of This FAQ? A: Hi, my name is Shane Connor and the author of the Potassium Iodide Anti-Radiation Pill FAQ at ki4u.com. (KI4U, Inc. Background Here.) From the first week of having launched that original KI FAQ in 1999 we've had inquiries about, and requests for advice on, the inexpensive FEMA surplus Civil Defense radiation survey meters, Geiger counters and dosimeters available on the market. As our traffic grew to 3,000+ daily visitors at that FAQ we saw an ever greater % of our incoming e-mails there inquiring about these radiation detectors. Unfortunately, there had always been little that we could recommend in solid resources addressing these needs. Late in 2000 we began researching in earnest the applicability and reliability of these surplus meters for use in a nuclear emergency. As with researching potassium iodide and its use in nuclear emergencies for the ki4u.com FAQ, we found much fiction, misinformation, and critical omissions overwhelming the few solid facts. (Compounding this problem was the lack of public understanding that most all the alternative and newly manufactured radiation detecting instruments on the market are only for peace-time use in detecting very low levels of radiation. Most will saturate out and be useless in measuring the truly dangerous higher levels of radiation encountered in a for-real future nuclear emergency.) We quickly discovered, though, that the most reliable sources for information about these Civil Defense radiation detecting survey meters was from the radiological technicians who are employed by FEMA, or under contract with FEMA, or work in state calibration labs, to maintain, repair and calibrate these same meters. In numerous phone conversations with dozens of them from across the country, and even spending days visiting some of their facilities and interviewing them there, we've been both fascinated and enlightened. We're grateful for their having shared their candid experiences, opinions and 'insider tips' gained from having worked with and tested this same equipment, some of them for over 30 years! (We had also earlier received access to both the PanTex Nuclear Weapons Plant facility in Texas and the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and appreciate the individuals who arranged these visits and the unique insights into practical radiation monitoring shared with us there, as well.) We've also found it very instructive to have completed FEMA courses in 'Radiological Emergency Management', as well as in 'Radiological Monitoring' where we employed these exact same Civil Defense meters and dosimeters in practical exercises as we were trained how to properly utilize them in a nuclear emergency. (We've also since completed both the 'General Employee Radiological Training' and the 'Radiation Worker Training' courses, as well as specialized training on calibration equipment.) The initial goal throughout all of this process has been to first establish and confirm the inherent reliability and practical applicability of these Civil Defense survey meters and dosimeters for use in a nuclear emergency. Secondly, we inquired specifically how best to go about evaluating and testing surplus or auction acquired Civil Defense meters to assure one was confidently in possession of a reliable and accurate unit. This is essential because most of the available Civil Defense meters have usually arrived in the marketplace originally via a FEMA auction as part of a larger lot where any particular meter's previous history of maintenance, repairs, calibration, and past storage conditions is largely obscured. We've also learned that the process of diligently culling through thousands of instruments to uncover those best suited to invest additional time/money/energy into them, to assure they are up to the standards required for use in a future nuclear emergency, can be daunting. After a lengthy bout of due-diligence, outside lab testing of sample meters, and in-depth consultations with many of the above mentioned technicians, we took possession of (in the Spring of 2001) a large quantity (120,000+) of FEMA Civil Defense radiological instruments from the Federal Depot in Fort Worth, Texas. This included survey meters, Geiger counters, dosimeters, chargers, test equipment, and current FEMA Repair and Maintenance Manuals. Most importantly, though, we then also hired experienced FEMA trained technicians. Shortly thereafter KI4U, Inc. was licensed and authorized to perform these calibrations at our lab here in conformance with the standards as set forth by the State of Texas, ASTM, FEMA and the NRC. We've grown to 8 full-time staff members and trained technicians and utilize three Cesium calibrators in our lab here. These original 'Dept. of the Army - Office of Civil Defense' calibrators were made for this project as they were specifically and originally designed for calibrating these exact same high-range CDV series survey meters and dosimeters. We are today the only non-government lab that specializes in calibrating these high-range Civil Defense instruments. We do so with the CD V-794, N.I.S.T. Traceable Cs-137 (Cesium) calibrators pictured here... ...and that were specifically designed and made for properly calibrating these Civil Defense meters and dosimeters. Our full-time RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) and lab director here, has served as an RSO on three separate licenses. He began his career in the mid-sixties at Oak Ridge National Labs and subsequently served at both Los Alamos National Laboratory and PanTex Nuclear Weapons Plant facility, as well as numerous nuclear power plants. He was a consultant to the Safeguards Program focused on developing the anti-terrorism strategies for nuclear facilities in the US. He was also the Chairman of the Nuclear Technology Program at a southern university for seven years and is the author of five books on the subject. Also, while at the Texas Bureau of Radiation Control, he not only repaired, maintained and calibrated these same FEMA Civil Defense instruments, but was a certified instructor in the proper use of them in a nuclear emergency. Our goals and commitments in both processing, calibrating and distributing these instruments to the public are covered in greater detail below at the Q&A section entitled: What's RadMeters4u.com Approach & Commitment?   Q: Who Needs Radiation Detection Instruments? A: The reasons for acquiring a radiation detecting survey meter, Geiger counter and/or dosimeter are as varied as are peoples concerns for the future and the safety of their families in this ever changing world. Radiation threats are unique in that you can't see, smell, taste, hear or feel them, until it's already done its damage and you are suffering the effects. Without a radiation detector you would have to depend solely on the limited resources of the authorities to monitor your location, then determine your risk level, decide the best protective action and then to 'get the word out'. Exclusively depending on others to monitor, evaluate, warn and advise you, in a rapidly developing nuclear emergency crisis, would surely not be anywhere near as quick or accurate in revealing your current risk as when you are capable of taking your own independent radiation readings. Also, where authorities are warning of radiation fallout not yet arrived, but anticipated to be heading your way, with a radiation meter you'll be able to confirm that the suggested protective action is in fact reducing your exposure and not inadvertently increasing it. (Safe avenues of evacuation and/or designated safe areas can potentially shift as quickly as the wind!) The specific causes of potential life-threatening nuclear radiation emergencies include... Nuclear power plant accidents here or abroad (Three Mile Island, Chernobyl) Nuclear materials processing plant accidents (Tokaimura, Japan) Nuclear waste (radioactive waste from hospitals, spent fuel and radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, radioactive contaminated materials, etc.) storage or processing facilities mishaps Nuclear waste transport truck or train accidents Accidents involving non-waste, but normal daily nuclear materials transport (trucks, planes, trains, couriers) One out every 50 HazMat shipments contain radioactive materials. Approximately three million packages of radioactive material are shipped in the United States each year. Improper storage of radioactive materials (non-waste) at any point during their normal material life cycle. (Power plants, Medical, Industrial, Academic, etc.) Lost or stolen radioactive sources (Over the last 50 years, incidents of lost and stolen licensed radioactive devices occur at the rate of once every other day. See Lost and Stolen Nuclear Materials in the United States and NRC Documents Revealing Thousands of Radioactive Source Are Missing.) Nuclear terrorism here via... An attack on, or sabotage of, a nuclear power plant. (See Sabotage and Terrorism of Nuclear Power Plants) Or, a real terrorist atomic bomb detonated here (See Do terrorists really have nukes here?) Or, much more likely, conventional explosives used to disperse radioactive materials (dirty bomb) to effectively contaminate an area and much within in it. (See Do terrorists really have nukes here?) Or, food or water supplies could be contaminated with radioactive materials. Or, a strong radioactive source could be placed in a location adjacent to where large numbers of the public would file past. They would be unknowingly and dangerously exposed to it, such as at a subway que, sports arena or stadium, etc. Regarding radioactive fallout and minimizing the effects on your family with the use of a radiation meter, Cresson H. Kearny, the author of Nuclear War Survival Skills, Original Edition Published September, 1979, by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a Facility of the U.S. Department of Energy (Updated and Expanded 1987 Edition) states in Chapter 10 - Fallout Radiation Meters: A survivor in a shelter that does not have a dependable meter to measure fallout radiation or that has one but lacks someone who knows how to use it will face a prolonged nightmare of uncertainties. Human beings cannot feel, smell, taste, hear, or see fallout radiation. Which parts of the shelter give the best protection? How large is the radiation dose being received by each person? When is it safe to leave the shelter for a few minutes? When can one leave for an hour's walk to get desperately needed water? As the fallout continues to decay, how long can one safely work each day outside the shelter? When can the shelter be left for good? Only an accurate, dependable fallout meter will enable survivors to answer these life-or-death questions. With a reliable dose rate meter you can quite quickly determine how great the radiation dangers are in different places, and then promptly act to reduce your exposure to these unseen, unfelt dangers. For example, if you go outside an excellent fallout shelter and learn by reading your dose rate meter that you are being exposed to 30 R/hr, you know that if you stay there for one hour you will receive a dose of 30 R. But if you go back inside your excellent shelter after 2 minutes, then while outside you will have received a dose of only 1 R. Bottom Line: Having on-hand an inexpensive radiation detecting meter in this day and age is cheap family insurance and, like major medical insurance, we can also hope & pray never to have to use it! Also, like any real insurance, it'll be near impossible to get it after the fact!   Q: What's the Difference Between Alpha, Beta and Gamma Radiation? A: Everything in nature would prefer to be in a relaxed, or stable state. Unstable atoms undergo nuclear processes that cause them to become more stable. One such process involves emitting excess energy from the nucleus. This process is called radioactivity or radioactive decay. "Radiation" and "radioactivity" are often confused, the proper relationship is that "radioactive atoms emit radiation." The three main types of nuclear radiation emitted from radioactive atoms are: Alpha: These are actual particles that are electrically charged and are commonly referred to as alpha particles. Alpha particles are the least penetrating of the three primary forms of radiation, as they cannot travel more than four to seven inches in air and a single sheet of paper or the outermost layer of dead skin that covers the body will stop them. However, if alpha particle emitting radioactive material is inhaled or ingested, they can be a very damaging source of radiation with their short range being concentrated internally in a very localized area. Beta: These are also actual particles that are electrically charged and are commonly referred to as beta particles. Beta particles travel faster and penetrate further than alpha particles. They can travel from a few millimeters up to about ten yards in open air depending on the particular isotope and they can penetrate several millimeters through tissue. Beta particle radiation is generally a slight external exposure hazard, although prolonged exposure to large amounts can cause skin burns and it is also a major hazard when interacting with the lens of the eye. However, like alpha particles, the greatest threat is if beta particle emitting radioactive material is inhaled or ingested as it can also do grave internal damage. Gamma: Gamma rays are similar to x-rays, they are a form of electromagnetic radiation. Gamma rays are the most hazardous type of external radiation as they can travel up to a mile in open air and penetrate all types of materials. Since gamma rays penetrate more deeply through the body than alpha or beta particles, all tissues and organs can be damaged by sources from outside of the body. Only sufficiently dense shielding and/or distance from gamma ray emitting radioactive material can provide protection. Bottom Line: All three of the primary types of radiation above can be a hazard if emitted from radioactive material that was inhaled or ingested. Protected food and water and even a simple inexpensive dust protector face mask can go a long ways to denying this route of entry. However, for the penetrating gamma rays, it is essential to be able to measure the strength of this type of radiation to then discover the best protected shielding and distance options available. (See our FAQ entitled Nuclear Blast & Fallout Shelters FAQ for an understanding of nuclear bomb effects, fallout, and effective sheltering options.) Also, in a shelter or home, besides revealing the safest locations there, knowing the intensity of the local gamma radiation outside will better indicate when it is again safe. Or, safe enough to perform a brief essential chore outside. More information on the specific physical damage caused by gamma radiation is below in the section entitled: Which Survey Meter Would Be Best For My Needs?   Q: What's the Difference Between Roentgen, Rad and Rem Radiation Measurements? A: Since nuclear radiation affects people, we must be able to measure its presence. We also need to relate the amount of radiation received by the body to its physiological effects. Two terms used to relate the amount of radiation received by the body are exposure and dose. When you are exposed to radiation, your body absorbs a dose of radiation. As in most measurement quantities, certain units are used to properly express the measurement. For radiation measurements they are... Roentgen: The roentgen measures the energy produced by gamma radiation in a cubic centimeter of air. It is usually abbreviated with the capital letter "R". A milliroentgen, or "mR", is equal to one one-thousandth of a roentgen. An exposure of 50 roentgens would be written "50 R". Rad: Or, Radiation Absorbed Dose recognizes that different materials that receive the same exposure may not absorb the same amount of energy. A rad measures the amount of radiation energy transferred to some mass of material, typically humans. One roentgen of gamma radiation exposure results in about one rad of absorbed dose. Rem: Or, Roentgen Equivalent Man is a unit that relates the dose of any radiation to the biological effect of that dose. To relate the absorbed dose of specific types of radiation to their biological effect, a "quality factor" must be multiplied by the dose in rad, which then shows the dose in rems. For gamma rays and beta particles, 1 rad of exposure results in 1 rem of dose. Other measurement terms: Standard International (SI) units which may be used in place of the rem and the rad are the sievert (Sv) and the gray (Gy). These units are related as follows: 1Sv = 100 rem, 1Gy = 100 rad. Two other terms which refer to the rate of radioactive decay of a radioactive material are curie (Ci) and becquerel (Bq). Bottom Line: Fortunately, cutting through the above confusion, for purposes of practical radiation protection in humans, most experts agree (including FEMA Emergency Management Institute) that Roentgen, Rad and Rem can all be considered equivalent. The exposure rates you'll usually see will be expressed simply in terms of roentgen (R) or milliroentgen (mR). For details on how much is too much "R", see the Q&A section below entitled: Which Survey Meter Would Be Best For My Needs?   Q: What's the Difference Between Survey Meters, Geiger Counters and Dosimeters? Survey meters, field survey meters, rate meters, radiac meters, radiation detection meters, low-range meters, high-range meters, airborne meters, fallout meters, remote monitors, Geiger counters, and even 'dose rate meters' are all describing instruments that measure exposure rate or the intensity of radiation at a location at some point in time. It's like the speedometer of a car; both present measurements relative to time. All of these above 'meters', the Geiger counter, too (which utilizes a Geiger tube rather than an ion chamber), will show their radiation intensity readings relative to time, such as R/hr or mR/hr like the scale at the right, same as a car speedometer will show miles/hr. If you entered a radioactive area and your meter says 60 R/hr then that means if you were to stay there for a whole hour you would be exposed to 60 R. Same as driving a car for an hour at 60 mph, you'd be 60 miles down the road after that hour, at that rate. Dosimeters, which are also available in high or low ranges, can be in the form of a badge, pen/tube type, or even a digital readout and all measure exposure or the total accumulated amount of radiation to which you were exposed. (The Civil Defense pen/tube type would show a reading like at the right when looking through it.) It's also similar to the odometer of a car; where both measure an accumulation of units. The dosimeter will indicate a certain total number of R or mR exposure received, just as the car odometer will register a certain number of miles travelled. More in-depth details regarding dosimeters follows below in the section entitled; What about Dosimeters and Chargers? Example of the relationship between a survey meter and a dosimeter; If you had a survey meter in one hand and a dosimeter in the other and walked into an area of measurable radiation and your survey meter said you were now standing in a 30 R/hr radiation field, and you stayed there for two hours, then your dosimeter at the end of those two hours would be indicating 60 R. The meter measured the exposure rate or intensity of the radiation there and the dosimeter accumulated the total amount of radiation you had been exposed to for having been there those two hours. (If you had left right after the first half-hour, then your dosimeter would have been reading only 15 R.) Bottom Line: Both meters and dosimeters have their place, and their limitations, in indicating the presence of hazardous radiation levels, and when utilized by a person with the basic understanding of what they are each measuring, they can be critical life-saving tools to survival in a nuclear emergency.   Q: How Good Are Surplus FEMA Civil Defense Survey Meters, Geiger Counters and Dosimeters? A: From the numerous FEMA technicians who have maintained, repaired and calibrated thousands of these Civil Defense Survey Meters, Geiger Counters and Dosimeters over many years, oftentimes even decades, we heard nothing but praise with a few specific maintenance cautions to be aware of. Most of these technicians have seen the same units come back in from active use in the field for their 1, 2 or 3 year re-calibration certification. (The calibration schedule varies based on the particular application they might be utilized for 'in the field'.) They know first-hand how well they hold up their calibration and can be counted on to perform. (Many tens of thousands of these same exact type Civil Defense radiation survey meters and dosimeters are also currently deployed in various states and amongst hundreds of their local governments First-Responders; the fire, police, EMT, and HazMat teams. I was also notified that a fair number of hospitals also utilize them to periodically check their X-Ray machines, etc. for leaks, too.) All the technicians variously described the properly maintained, calibrated, and stored Civil Defense survey meter and dosimeter as "accurate", "reliable" and "dependable". Many of these same technicians and radiological officers are also atop the call lists in their respective states for any radiological emergency and many of these same survey meters and dosimeters are what they will be confidently responding with. They know them well and trust them. However, surplus or auction acquired Civil Defense meters and dosimeters are often brought onto the market with little or none of their previous history known of their maintenance, repairs, last calibrations, and past storage conditions. Many of these units, unlike the reliability proven units described above and maintained on a regular basis, may have been out of that maintenance 'loop' for as long 10, 15 or 20 years. Or, they may be new-in-the-box units, produced in the 60's or 70's, that never even got into the maintenance 'loop'. The functionality, reliability and accuracy of any particular individual surplus Civil Defense meter or dosimeter can not be assumed, until actually verified and proven to be so. We know this from the experience of culling out the bad units from amongst the good as we've evaluated, tested, and had calibrations attempted on literally thousands of these same surplus meters and dosimeters since early summer of 2001. (We have well over 100,000 of them here in our facility. See photos of our warehouse and lab below.) Many of these surplus meters can be every bit as reliable and accurate as those described above, but it first requires a systematic evaluation and testing process to identify them. More on that essential process is covered below in the Q&A section entitled: "Where Can You Buy a Quality Civil Defense Survey Meter?" and at "What's RadMeters4u.com Approach & Commitment?" Bottom Line: We found the above positive sentiments by FEMA technicians so universal, and witnessed the successful tests and calibrations of enough regularly maintained meters, that we are confident that a properly maintained, calibrated, and stored Civil Defense Survey Meter or dosimeter will give its owner very reliable and accurate service. The goal then needs to be to assure that you acquire only a quality Civil Defense meter or dosimeter that is first proven to be fully up to these maintenance, calibration and storage standards.   Q: What Are the Different Types of Civil Defense Survey Meters? A: Amongst the Civil Defense Survey Meters there are four primary types, one low-range meter and three high-range meters. (There was one other high-range meter, the plastic encased CD V-710, that we don't see much of anymore and will not be including it here.) The following three survey meters are the most common Civil Defense high-range meters. The detector on all these high-range survey meters is an ionization chamber. It measures gamma radiation. The R/hr in the ranges indicated below refers to Roentgen per hour exposure rate. They each have a 1-5 numbered meter range and four multiplier scales: X100, X10, X1 and X0.1, with the exception of the CD V-720, that does not have the X0.1 scale. The CD V-715 and CD V-717 with the multiplier scale, X0.1, provides that the 0 - 5 range would be read as 0 - .5 R/hr when it's selected. The other differences between the three units is that the CD V-717 includes a 25' cable for remote sensing and the CD V-720 employs a sliding beta shield on the bottom to allow for beta radiation detection, too. FEMA generic basic operating instructions for high-range meters and dosimeters is here. CD V-715 Civil Defense High-Range Survey Meter     0-500 R/hr range 3.25 pounds, die cast aluminum and drawn steel case, watertight, will float. Powered with one D-sized battery, continuously for 150 hours, longer if on intermittent basis. Instrument accuracy on any of its four ranges is within +- 20% of true dose rate. Accuracy maintained throughout temperature ranges of -20 F to +125 F, relative humidities to 100% and altitudes up to 25,000'. CD V-715 Manual. CD V-717 Civil Defense High-Range Survey Meter     0-500 R/hr range 5.25 pounds, 3-part die cast aluminum case, watertight, will float. Powered with one D-sized battery, continuously for 150 hours, longer if on intermittent basis. Instrument accuracy on any of its four ranges is within +- 20% of true dose rate. Use of remote cable (25') should not degrade accuracy more than 5%. Detachable bottom section, containing ion chamber, can be set up for remote sensing with included cable. CD V-720 Civil Defense High-Range Survey Meter     0-500 R/hr range 3.75 pounds, 2-part die cast aluminum case, watertight, will float. Powered with two D-sized batteries, continuously for 150 hours, longer if on intermittent basis. Instrument accuracy on any of its three ranges is within +- 15% of true dose rate. (It does not have X0.1 range.) Has sliding shield door on bottom to allow detection, though not measurement, of beta particles. The low-range Civil Defense survey meter is the CD V-700 below... The detector on the CD V-700 is a Geiger-Mueller (GM) tube. It measures gamma radiation. It has a check source on the side and a headphone jack. The range selector switch allows you to measure up to 50 mR/hr. A milliroentgen (mR) is one thousandth of a Roentgen (R). The probe on the CD V-700 has a section in the center which rotates to expose a window for also detecting beta. When the window is open it detects both beta and gamma. This survey meter is calibrated only for gamma radiation, so you can not get an accurate reading of the exposure rate from beta particles, only an indication of their presence. The CD V-700 is a low-range meter more suited for peacetime use than the above three high-range CDV-715's, 717's and 720's. According to the 1993 FEMA publication #SM 320 "Fundamentals Course for Radiological Monitors" states: "It is only able to measure up to 50 mR/hr and unit may become "saturated" in a higher field of radiation and act erratically, even to the point of giving false low readings in radiation fields exceeding 1000 mR/hr (1 R/hr)." However, it is well suited for verifying successful decontamination and/or checking for low-level contamination in food or water. But, as you'll see in the following section, detailing the most dangerous levels of radiation to be most concerned about, if you can only initially afford one survey meter, it needs to be a high-range meter first. We have a separate page offering calibrated low-level CD V-700's at http://www.radmeters4u.com/more.htm

Q: Which Survey Meter Would Be Best For My Needs? A: The first decision in selecting a survey meter is choosing whether a high-range meter or a low-range meter would best suit your goals and needs. A survey meter will be used to help make critical decisions, such as to flee, how far, and to where. Or, to stay in-place, and if staying then in determining the best protected location in your home or shelter. Then, later, for determining when it is safe again and until then, when and for how long someone could briefly exit the protected area to perform a critical chore, etc. Key to that high or low range decision should be to first understand and then determine the levels of radiation exposure one should be most concerned about in a nuclear emergency. Then the correct range meter best suited for the job will be readily obvious. The following is compiled from FM 3-7. NBC Field Handbook, 1994. FM 8-9. NATO Handbook on the Medical Aspects of NBC Defensive Operations, 1996. FM 8-10-7. Health Services Support in a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Environment, 1996. It is instructive in outlining the levels of radiation and their health effects. Expected health effects for an adult assuming the cumulative total radiation exposure was all received within a weeks time. For children, the effects can be expected at half these dose levels. TOTAL EXPOSURE ONSET & DURATION OF INITIAL SYMPTOMS & DISPOSITION 30 to 70 R From 6-12 hours: none to slight incidence of transient headache and nausea; vomiting in up to 5 percent of personnel in upper part of dose range. Mild lymphocyte depression within 24 hours. Full recovery expected. (Fetus damage possible from 50R and above.) 70 to 150 R From 2-20 hours: transient mild nausea and vomiting in 5 to 30 percent of personnel. Potential for delayed traumatic and surgical wound healing, minimal clinical effect. Moderate drop in lymphocycte, platelet, and granulocyte counts. Increased susceptibility to opportunistic pathogens. Full recovery expected. 150 to 300 R From 2 hours to three days: transient to moderate nausea and vomiting in 20 to 70 percent; mild to moderate fatigability and weakness in 25 to 60 percent of personnel. At 3 to 5 weeks: medical care required for 10 to 50%. At high end of range, death may occur to maximum 10%. Anticipated medical problems include infection, bleeding, and fever. Wounding or burns will geometrically increase morbidity and mortality. 300 to 530 R From 2 hours to three days: transient to moderate nausea and vomiting in 50 to 90 percent; mild to moderate fatigability in 50 to 90 percent of personnel. At 2 to 5 weeks: medical care required for 10 to 80%. At low end of range, less than 10% deaths; at high end, death may occur for more than 50%. Anticipated medical problems include frequent diarrheal stools, anorexia, increased fluid loss, ulceration. Increased infection susceptibility during immunocompromised time-frame. Moderate to severe loss of lymphocytes. Hair loss after 14 days. 530 to 830 R From 2 hours to two days: moderate to severe nausea and vomiting in 80 to 100 percent of personnel; From 2 hours to six weeks: moderate to severe fatigability and weakness in 90 to 100 percent of personnel. At 10 days to 5 weeks: medical care required for 50 to 100%. At low end of range, death may occur for more than 50% at six weeks. At high end, death may occur for 99% of personnel. Anticipated medical problems include developing pathogenic and opportunistic infections, bleeding, fever, loss of appetite, GI ulcerations, bloody diarrhea, severe fluid and electrolyte shifts, capillary leak, hypotension. Combined with any significant physical trauma, survival rates will approach zero. 830 R Plus From 30 minutes to 2 days: severe nausea, vomiting, fatigability, weakness, dizziness, and disorientation; moderate to severe fluid imbalance and headache. Bone marrow total depletion within days. CNS symptoms are predominant at higher radiation levels. Few, if any, survivors even with aggressive and immediate medical attention. It should be readily apparent now that the more dangerous levels of radiation are well beyond the capability of a low-range survey meter, such as the CD V-700, which would be maxed out at 50 mR/hr which is only .05 R/hr. (A low-range meter is better suited for verifying successful decontamination and/or checking for low-level contamination in food or water.) With that meter alone, and maxed out, you would not know if you just walked into a 1 R/hr field or a potentially fatal 500+ R/hr environment. Cresson H. Kearny, covers this point, too, in his book Nuclear War Survival Skills, Chapter 10 - Fallout Radiation Meters: Instruments that measure only milliroentgen-range dose rates are sold for war use by some companies. Since most Americans have no idea what size of radiation doses would incapacitate or kill them, and do not even know that a milliroentgen is 1/1000 of a roentgen, some people buy instruments that are capable of measuring maximum dose rates of only one roentgen or less per hour. The highest dose rate that it can measure, one roentgen per hour, is far too low to be of much use in a nuclear war. Bottom Line: Low-range survey meters, like the CD V-700, do have their place, and we offer them here, but without a higher-range survey meter first, and initially, warning you away from exposure to excessively high levels of lethal radiation, the opportunity to later even use a low-range meter may never come! OK, so if it's a high-range survey meter we would need first, then which Civil Defense high-range survey meter is 'the best'? We asked this and other important related questions in all of our conversations with the FEMA technicians and radiological officers we interviewed. They responded; #1 - Any of the high-range Civil Defense meters will work just fine IF it has been properly maintained, stored, and calibrated. Also, calibration no more frequently than every three years is normally sufficient IF shelf-bound and stored properly, but is much more frequently required if subjected to rough handling, for example, bouncing around in the trunk of a car. Also, they emphasized that the calibration needs to always be with a sufficiently strong enough radioactive source that a mid-scale meter reading can be attained for all the ranges, not just the lower ranges. #2 - Universally, when pushed to rank them, most all of them said their preference for a particular CD survey meter model was in the following order: CD V-715, CD V-717, CD V-720. Asked to elaborate why this personal preference and most said it was for the lighter weight of the CD V-715 over the other two and the basic KISS principle in that the CD V-715 had no frill 'bells & whistles' that might invite complications in the field. Also, many were openly critical of the CD V-720 design 'feature' of its sliding beta shield for attaining beta readings. They felt it was more of a marketing 'feature' than of any real practical use. They also found it required more maintenance attention as it was more prone to allow the intrusion of humidity and dirt internally. We also inquired how comfortable they were with used and visibly worn Civil Defense survey meters compared to any of the same type new and largely unused meters available there on their shelves, too. They made it clear that it didn't matter, used or new looking, just so long as it was properly maintained, calibrated, and stored until needed. If called on to respond to a radiological emergency, they would rush out the door with whatever unit, new or used, was known to them to of been properly maintained, calibrated, and stored correctly there.

Q: Where Can You Buy a Quality Civil Defense Survey Meter? A: Civil Defense survey meters usually come on the market via very infrequent, but sometimes very large, FEMA auctions ever since the Federal government in the past two administrations (1st Bush & Clinton) de-funded the FEMA/state partnerships that had previously maintained our national nuclear Civil Defense program. They are most often bid on by surplus wholesalers, but sometimes by other unrelated businesses and even individuals hoping to turn them for a quick profit. They buy them by the pallet load lots, perhaps 40-80 pallets per lot and as many as a dozen lots or more in any one auction. But, of course, these auctions can be bigger or smaller, too. Once acquired they are then typically sold in smaller lots to other wholesalers and any business that might have a potential customer base interested in them retail, such as Army/Navy surplus stores, preparedness companies and internet based companies catering to the same type clientele. You can check any of the above, or search the internet ('Geiger counter' is a good search term), and you'll always find some offered at www.ebay.com. (Here at RadMeters4U.com we also offer both retail and wholesale Civil Defense meters. See What's RadMeters4u.com Approach & Commitment? below after carefully studying the following information.) Most all these potential outlets are interested in moving them out with as little additional input (time/money/energy) as is possible. While that's understandable business-wise, you'll need to be aware of what these meters are, and are not, likely capable of when you consider getting yours, especially when they tell you that "it works", and that's what you are relying upon. As of this September, 2006 we've successfully calibrated and certified literally over 20,000 of the 100,000+ Civil Defense meters and dosimeters we'd acquired from the Federal Depot in 2001, along with countless hundreds more from state and municipal agencies and individuals who have sent theirs into us for calibration. What we've learned is priceless, and should be well understood by anybody considering buying even just one unit as a serious nuclear radiation detection instrument. (Of course, if you are only wanting one as a 'cold war relic' conversational piece for the mantle, or as a doorstop, you can disregard the following and simply shop for the cheapest and neatest looking available.) Typically, amongst surplus meters the public might attain from various sources, we see only about 45% that are functioning sufficiently enough to even have calibration attempted on them without some maintenance or repair work first. Many of these meters will actually pass the basic 'circuit check' test, but still require essential repair work before calibrating. Also, without exception, all surplus Civil Defense meters, whether they needed some repair work first or not before attempting to be calibrated, still had to have that calibration adjustment and fine-tuning to bring them back into even the minimum required accuracy specified to be certified. What this all means to you in selecting and acquiring a Civil Defense survey meter is that when the seller says simply "It works." or "It passed the circuit check test.", they likely have only dropped a couple batteries in it and performed the 'circuit check' to arrive at those conclusions. And, odds are, those meters will not be functioning sufficiently enough for them to even be later calibrated without repair work first. And, even less likely that you'd be getting a functioning meter whose last calibration, who knows when, was still holding accurately enough that you didn't need to have the calibration re-done again. (Also, you won't know how well its been handled or stored since that last calibration either.) And, you will never know, unless and until you then get it re-calibrated yourself. Bottom Line: If you want/need a meter you can have complete confidence in that it will perform reliably and accurately when it'll count the most, then you've either got to... Acquire a meter that was recently successfully calibrated (See What's RadMeters4u.com Approach & Commitment?) ...or... Buy an untested surplus meter and send it off to a qualified repair/calibration lab, like ours here. ...or... Try to find/buy a newly manufactured high-range survey meter for $1,000 - $1,800.   Q: What's RadMeters4u.com Approach & Commitment? A: Our approach and commitment at RadMeters4u.com is identical to that we've held at our Potassium Iodide Anti-Radiation Pill FAQ at ki4u.com since 1999, where we strive to provide both the best current information and products, and at prices to where more families can then get prepared, both correctly and confidently. At the Potassium Iodide Anti-Radiation Pill FAQ we provide vital information, original research and alternative product sources that show people how they don't need to be paying up to $240 for 100 KI doses anymore, but can now utilize other newly released KI or KIO3 formulations at less than a tenth that cost or even make their own KI solutions for pennies per dose. (And, undoubtedly, many more now have protected their families today because of our efforts.) Now, at RadMeters4u.com, we have, and will continue to, invest the time, money, and energy to assure the best sources of radiation protection information and products at affordable prices for families wanting to acquire these essential Civil Defense survey meters and dosimeters. To this end we had acquired in the Spring of 2001 the above mentioned 100,000+ items of FEMA Civil Defense survey meters, Geiger counters, dosimeters, chargers and test equipment. (And, hired qualified FEMA trained technicians!) A total of 416 pallet loads were trucked in from the Federal Depot in Fort Worth to our 5,200 square foot warehouse here in Gonzales, Texas. The building is also home to our labs where, with a trained staff of eight, we are processing, evaluating, testing, grading, calibrating and, as necessary, overhauling these meters and dosimeters. We are also re-calibrating the meters for numerous state and municipal agencies as well as for the general public. We hold a Radioactive Material License issued by the State of Texas for operation of our three CD V-794 Cesium calibrators here at our location. One of Our Evaluation, Testing, Repair & Calibration Labs in Gonzales, Texas... All of our personnel have successfully completed both the General Employee Radiological Training and the Radiation Worker Training courses, as well as specialized training on the calibration equipment. Carl Kee, our full-time RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) and lab director here, has served as an RSO on three separate licenses. He began his career in the mid-sixties at Oak Ridge National Labs and subsequently served at both Los Alamos National Laboratory and PanTex Nuclear Weapons Plant facility, as well as numerous nuclear power plants. He was a consultant to the Safeguards Program focused on developing the anti-terrorism strategies for nuclear facilities in the US. He was also the Chairman of the Nuclear Technology Program at a southern university for seven years and is the author of five books on the subject. Also, while at the Texas Bureau of Radiation Control, he not only repaired, maintained and calibrated these same FEMA Civil Defense instruments, but was a certified instructor in the proper use of them in a nuclear emergency. All of the Civil Defense meters in our lab are taken through the following preventative maintenance, tests, and evaluations prior to calibration: Confirm integrity of case, meter, and snap connections Confirm that the mandatory retrofit had been completed on CD V-715's Check that extension cable is intact and serviceable on CD V-717's Check ion chamber rubber gasket integrity and correct placement on CD V-720's Clean battery contacts and battery terminals, as required Confirm good ground connections on circuit board Check screws attaching the circuit board to the case top Visual check of circuit board for metal foil cracks, cold solder joints, or solder bridges Clean circuit board with brush and solution, heat to dry Clean high megaohm resistors, as needed Clean high megaohm resistors switch, as needed Check for dirt contamination of the high impedence feed-thru insulator on ionization chamber, clean if necessary Test ionization chamber for loose (broken) internal components Test ionization chamber for leakage via Megohm meter, re-coat with clear varnish, if necessary Insert battery Perform Zero and Circuit Check operations after two minute warmup at Zero setting Check meter needle for free movement throughout range Commence a power-on 16-hour burn-in to recondition the electrometer tube Repeat the Zero and Circuit Check Test Perform stability evaluation of the meter needle throughout all the ranges. The needle should not deflect more than three of the smallest increments upscale (0.3 on the meter face) on the "X100", "X10", and "X1" scales and six increments (0.6 on the meter face) on the "X0.1" scale Remove batteries Check instrument case top gasket, apply light coat of D-5 compound to it, if needed Place fresh desiccant packet in case before closing Clean outside casing and tag it Successful completion of the above procedures has the meter now qualified to be calibrated. Successfully passing our lab calibration certification they are then fully ready for reliable, accurate and confident service in the field. All calibration certifications of these Civil Defense survey meters is accomplished here with the CD V-794 calibrators built specifically for these type meters. This calibrator utilizes a N.I.S.T. traceable Cs-137 source that tests and calibrates (adjusts) mid-scale for all the ranges strictly in accordance with industry standards. KI4U, Inc. is licensed and authorized by the State of Texas to perform these calibrations at our lab here conforming to the standards as set forth by the State of Texas, FEMA, ASTM and the NRC. Successfully calibrated instruments are returned with the label below affixed to them certifying their calibration and stating who calibrated it and when, along with the serial number and model designation. Additionally, a Certificate of Calibration with the actual before and after accuracy responses for each of the different ranges available on the instrument is included. Two grades of Civil Defense survey meters are offered here, Grade "A" for used, and Grade "A+" for new. Our grading here of 'new' or 'used' condition is largely descriptive of it's outward cosmetic appearance as most all of these survey meters are 30+ years old. None of them had been used for their original intended purpose, yet, of field service in a nuclear war. The visibly 'used' units are often in the condition they are in simply because they have been subjected to regularly scheduled maintenance and re-calibrations over their life time which had them handled periodically. And, much like a car that has been stored for three decades, but driven around the block every six months, that's actually very healthy for these instruments. In comparison, some of the 'new' survey meters we have here that have never been out of their original factory box since they were first manufactured 30+ years ago, and may look pristine, we actually have a smaller percentage of them successfully pass calibration at our lab the first time through compared to the 'used', but regularly maintained survey meters. So, when you are deciding on 'new' or 'used' below, remember that both of these "A" grades will have successfully passed calibration and 'used' here refers mostly to it's cosmetic appearance and does not reflect its inherent future reliability or accuracy. In fact, they are all now in the best possible condition to deliver reliable and accurate service via the extensive preventative maintenance performed upon them. And, they are available for a fraction of the cost of a new high-range survey meter today that would cost you between $1,000.00 and $1,800.00, if you could find any currently available for immediate shipping! The delivered prices within the USA for Grade "A" and "A+" calibrated Civil Defense survey meters Civil Defense Survey Meters GRADE "A" (used) *** CALIBRATED *** GRADE "A+" (new) *** CALIBRATED *** CD V-715 $225.00 $275.00 * CD V-717 $255.00 $290.00 ** CD V-720 $240.00 $280.00 * *** Prices Above Include UPS or USPS Priority Mail Shipping *** Meter comes with original Instruction and Maintenance Manual (booklet). Pricing and Availability Subject To Change Without Notice! * 'NEW' here is not pristine, 'right out of the factory box', shiny new. These units show minor handling wear from decades of periodically being taken out of storage to test and calibrate them. That brief handling often creates minor scratches and surface cosmetic wear. Many also have date stickers upon them, too, indicating when that required normal scheduled maintenance was performed. ('Used' units show much more surface wear.) ** 'NEW' here is 'right out of the original sealed factory box' pristine new condition. They are only handled for our in-house evaluations and preventative maintenance before being calibration certified in our lab here. IN STOCK: As of this afternoon (Monday, 2:05 PM CST, 2/25/2008) we have in inventory about 60 of the popular calibrated, and 'best-selling', used CD V-715's and used 717's fresh from our calibration lab here. We also have a smaller number of all the other models and more of everything is constantly moving through the pipeline, too. ORDER YOUR CALIBRATED CIVIL DEFENSE SURVEY METERS and/or The Package below AT OUR www.ki4u.com ORDER PAGE HERE! "In a nuclear emergency, if I could only grab & run out the door with one box, this would be it! That was my underlying strategy that went into the component selection for 'The Package'!"       -Shane Connor 'The Package' Our Top Ten Radiation Protection 'Best Sellers' Packaged Together for a $354.00 (36% OFF) Discount! 1 Recently Calibrated & Certified CD V-715 Radiation Survey Meter As detailed at the Civil Defense Radiation Detection Survey Meters, Geiger Counters and Dosimeters FAQ, these CD meters have undergone extensive testing and preventative maintenance to assure reliable service 'in the field' before having been successfully calibration certified in our licensed radiation lab. Includes manual. 3 CD V-742 Dosimeters (certified electric leak & radiation accuracy tested) (More details on dosimeters at the FAQ.) 1 tested CD V-750/756 Dosimeter Charger Includes manual. (More details on chargers at the FAQ.) 1 KFM Kit The Kearney Fallout Radiation Meter (KFM) Kit has everything needed to make and use a radiation measuring device. Don't let its cheap price fool you, this is a serious device! Accurately measures dose rates from 30 mR/hr (0.03 R/hr) up to 43 R/hr. The KFM has undergone rigorous scientific testing in several laboratories where its accuracy and dependability were confirmed. Including Oak Ridge National Laboratory where it was developed by Cresson H. Kearny, author of Nuclear War Survival Skills. It's also a reliable backup meter so that you can check your readings and be sure of them and it is sensitive enough that you can begin training with it now on household sources. More details about the KFM at the KFM page here. 2 Packages ThyroSafe™ Potassium Iodide (KI) Thyroid-Blocking Potassium Iodide (KI) Anti-Radiation Tablets. 10 adult doses or 20 child age (3-12 yrs old) doses per each pack. More info on the need for these essential products and this particular best selling formulation at the Potassium Iodide Anti-Radiation Pill FAQ   Nuclear War Survival Skills by Cresson H. Kearney This is the comprehensive 280 page bible of practical self-help DIY instructions from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory civil defense researchers to survive nuclear war here or nuclear fallout from abroad. Also, applicable to nuclear terrorism here! Updated & Expanded 1987 Edition of original 1979 Oak Ridge National Laboratory Edition. Plus, 2001 Addendum on Hormesis. Foreward by Dr. Edward Teller. "Readers will be astonished at the wide variety of the problems which have excited his enquiry and the cunning simplicity of some of his solutions. There is no other book which offers so rounded a view of this large subject nor any on a smaller scale which one could recommend with so few reservations." - Journal of the Institute of Civil Defense, London   Radiation Safety In Shelters by FEMA This 120 page FEMA handbook is the best instructional resource for the practical field use of these same specific Civil Defense instruments sold above here in a for-real nuclear emergency. Subtitled: "A handbook for finding and providing the best protection in shelters with the use of instruments for detecting nuclear radiation." It goes far beyond the coverage included in the brief manuals that come with these FEMA Civil Defense survey meters and dosimeters. See the Table of Contents HERE and/or read the whole book FREE on-line there, too!   Civil Defense Ultimate CD Over 300 PDF files, close to 20,000 pages, totalling over 475 megabytes, with Civil Defense documents, Military Field Manuals, NBC Prep, Medical, and Survival topics. Classic books from many authors in text format and a small selection of religious books for personal research and audio files included. Also, a complete digital version of Cresson Kearney's 'Nuclear War Survival Skills' and the FEMA 'Radiation Safety In Shelters' book. And, copies of KI4U & RadMeters4U & RadShelters4U FAQ series, Bruce Beach's Nuclear Survival web archive, FEMA's CERT training program docs, and much, much more. Without a doubt, the most comprehensive collection of Civil Defense, Fallout Shelter and NBC Survival Prep documents anywhere on a single CD!   Civil Defense Ultimate DVD Library Collection 8 DVD's, of the best practical Civil Defense information and family preparation guidance ever brought together. It includes over $800 worth of 12 VHS videos; including 7 videos detailing Russian Civil Defense Nuclear, Biological & Chemical (NBC) training, their manuals, and 17 translated filmstrips that clearly, and shamefully, surpasses anything FEMA has for Americans today... Injury From Fallout Radiation Can Be Avoided Actions in the Face of Nuclear Attack - The Main Point is Not to Panic The Shelter - A Dependable Means of Protection What You Must Know About Nuclear Weapons Learn How to Use Your Gas Mask The Dangers of Bacteriological Weapons Blast Shelter, Fallout Shelters, and the Rules for Using Them (5th Grade) Skillfully Respond to the Threat of Attack and to the Warning Signals (5th Grade) Protecting Livestock Dealing with Public Utility Emergencies Fallout Shelters and How to Build Them How to Counteract Chemical Contamination Countering Pathogenic Bacteria Firefighting The Reception and Billeting of Evacuating Population If the Siren Sounds After Departing the Area of Destruction Also, 3 more videos showing the Nuclear War Survival Skills book suggested expedient shelter building designs being built and demonstrated in the field and explained by its author, and then additional videos touring shelters, explaining the facts on nuclear war survival, disaster emergency medical training & preps, etc. AND, 2 complete books; both the Nuclear War Survival Skills and Fighting Chance, the two Civil Defense books that have sold 1 million copies combined! AND, valuable archives, like the complete collection from 10 years of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness that covers Nuclear, Chemical and Biological threats & preps and the full archive of over 600 pages of the Fighting Chance newsletters that followed up and carried on where that book ended and 30 years of the Access to Energy newsletters dispelling the popular, but flawed, PC 'science' of today. AND, of course, there are also detailed blast & fallout shelter plans and drawings, etc. AND, there are three professional movies. Two of which are eye-opening DoD movies covering atomic blast and radiation effects while demonstrating and proving effective sheltering strategies, that have not been seen in over 30 years, and were thought lost forever! (The nuclear blast segments will have you re-winding it to study it again, over and over!) In total, approximately 22 hours of fascinating video, 150 hours of audio lectures on NBC topics, and 2,500 pages of hard-hitting text! There truly has never been anything like this Civil Defense Library collection compiled or available anywhere at any cost.   NukAlert™ NEW 24/7 Compact Monitor & Alarm First introduced at The Health Physics Society Convention. Domino-sized, key chain attachable, personal & portable, gamma radiation detecting and alarming device! Carried everywhere your keys go, with NukAlert's 24/7 constant monitoring, you'll always be promptly alerted to the unseen, but acutely dangerous, levels of radiation if/when present. Sealed unit is full-time "ON" and monitoring 24/7 with its ten+ year battery. Unit chirps with increasing frequency through ten easily recognizable ranges from 0.1 R/hr to 50+ R/hr. Tested and confirmed by nationally recognized radiological certification lab. Each unit also individually tested at our radiological certification laboratory here. Patent-Pending 'State of the Art' Technology. Exclusively developed and marketed by KI4U, Inc. This device could be your first alert to the need to then check the news and your environment further with the high-range type meters included above. Operating manual includes emergency radiation response basics (showing different exposure levels, time allowed, and their respective health threats) and also up-to-date 'What Do I Do Now?' radiation protection strategies. Complete details and NukAlert™ manual on-line at www.NukAlert.com. A benefit of the NukAlert, not to be overlooked, is that it will also confirm when and where those higher levels of radiation are not present, too. With the anticipated general public angst, perhaps even panic, accompanying any future developing nuclear emergency, this will be very reassuring to know with confidence when, for your locale, that your family is out of the worst danger, too.   The individual cost of all the above adds up to $969.00, but buying them together as "The Package", at over 36% off, is only $615.00, a savings of $354.00! ...AND, that also does include FREE UPS shipping! ~ Sorry, no substitutions. Limited quantities available, offer good for only as long as it is still presented here. ~ Click here to be shipped 'The Package' today! ORDER YOUR CALIBRATED CIVIL DEFENSE SURVEY METERS and/or The Package AT OUR www.ki4u.com ORDER PAGE HERE! Each Civil Defense Meter Comes With Its Own Manual Example CD V-715 Instruction and Maintenance Manual.   Q: What about Dosimeters and Chargers? A: Dosimeters and their required Chargers should be readily seen as an important additional asset by anyone that already understands the need for a survey meter. In fact, Bruce Beach even says; "If I had to choose between owning only a rate meter or owning only a dosimeter - I would choose the dosimeter." The direct-reading pocket dosimeter is a portable instrument designed to measure the total dose of moderate and high levels of gamma radiation. The common dosimeters are designated the CD V-138, CD V-730, CD V-740, and CD V-742. The instruments make use of a small quartz fiber electoscope as an exposure detector and indicator. An image of the fiber is projected onto a film scale and viewed through the eyepiece lens. The scale is calibrated in milliroentgens (mR) or roentgens (R), depending on the model, and may be read by looking through the eyepiece toward a lamp or other source of light. A CD V-750 or 756 dosimeter charger must be used in conjunction with the dosimeter to set the instrument to zero. The charger may also be used to read the scale. FEMA generic basic operating instructions for dosimeters and high-range meters is here. The "Operating and Maintenance Instructions", that come with each CD V-750/756 charger, explains how to zero your dosimeter with the charger. However, something we hadn't seen addressed in them, is that the fiber image may shift slightly when the dosimeter is removed from the charger. This hairline "kick" is a common occurrence, particularly on the lower-range dosimeters. Simply repeat the charging procedure until a zero reading is obtained. If this is difficult, a poor ground condition at the charging pedestal is likely. This condition may be more pronounced if the charger has not been used for a period of time. Dosimeters can be defective, too, like any instrument. Electrical leakage in dosimeters creates movement or drift of the fiber from an initial setting OR towards an up-scale reading without the presence of radiation. There can be half-a-dozen reasons why, but typically it is caused by contaminates in the manufacturing process, outgassing of internal components, such as plastics, or broken hermetic seals allowing humidity intrusion. FEMA current requirements for field dosimeters is for electrical leakage to not exceed 5% of full scale for a 50 degree C five day test. (Maximum leakage limit is 1% of full scale per day.) The test procedure requirements are quite a bit more involved than just slow cooking them for five days, but that's the primary objective to encourage failure in any units prone to these problems. Any dosimeters failing to meet this standard are considered defective and should be repaired. Dosimeters need to also then be tested for accuracy by being exposed to a known radiation source that should hit midscale on their particular range. (Dosimeters are not completely linear and the only provided calibration points are always midscale.) FEMA specifications require that dosimeters should respond to within plus or minus 10% of true dose. But, because the calibrator 'box' geometry (positioning) and radiation scatter components makes absolute calibration impossible, they allow a deviation as great as 15%. Also, as an expediency, because they recognize that even dosimeters that are off by plus or minus 25% still provide valuable information, they also permit a label denoting a correction factor, but you need to keep in mind that dosimeters are not perfectly linear. The prescribed procedure for radiation exposure testing of dosimeters is much more involved than calibrating a survey meter, both time-wise and in required operator participation setting it up and monitoring it throughout its duration. We utilize a specially designed rotating carousel within the CD V-794 calibrator as specified by FEMA to achieve the correct and uniform mid-scale radiation exposure for this test. If any are then found to not pass that radiation exposure test they can't then be easily calibrated (adjusted) or fixed. (It can be done with the right equipment, it's just a very involved chore.) Agencies normally just relegate them to a 'do it sometime much later' repair box or auction them off to unsuspecting bidders. (We recently passed on an offer of 30,000 dosimeters that with some diligent digging were eventually discovered to have been the collected defective rejects of a state agency that had tested 100,000 in-house over a number of years.) However, those that do pass the electrical leakage test and also the radiation exposure accuracy test, should be held in high confidence of performing accurately and reliably in the field. (BTW, Less than 1/4 of the dosimeters that we've performed the electrical leakage test on, now over 14,500 total to date, have passed that test. However, of those that do pass it, that we have then tested in our lab for radiation exposure accuracy, we've found a 93% success rate for that radiation exposure accuracy test.) The logic of preferring a high-range dosimeter rather than a low-range dosimeter is the same as for survey meters. We offer one model of high-range dosimeter (CD V-742) and they will all have been both successfully electrical leakage tested AND radiation exposure accuracy tested. They will have a certification sticker indicating such on them. Any dosimeters here that fail either test are put aside for possible future repairs, if/when we expand into that service. The delivered prices for each dosimeter, and for dosimeter chargers are: Civil Defense Dosimeters Electrical Leakage & Radiation Exposure Accuracy Tested CD V-742 $45.00 each CD V-750/756 Charger Dosimeter Charger w/ Instructions $65.00 *** Prices Above Include USPS Priority Mail Shipping *** Charger comes with original Operation and Maintenance Instructions booklet. BTW, newly manufactured dosimeters today cost three times as much! Pricing and Availability Subject To Change Without Notice! IN STOCK: As of this afternoon (Monday, 2:50 PM CST, 5/5/2008) we have about 2,200 successfully tested and calibrated dosimeters in inventory. These have been both electric leak and radiation accuracy tested. (BTW, 3 of these tested dosimeters along with a tested dosimeter charger are included in The Package detailed above.) ORDER YOUR TESTED CIVIL DEFENSE DOSIMETERS & CHARGERS and/or YOUR CALIBRATED SURVEY METERS and The Package AT OUR www.ki4u.com ORDER PAGE HERE!     Q: I Already Have a Survey Meter or Dosimeter, Can You Calibrate It? A: We get a lot of inquiries from folks who already have one or more survey meters or dosimeters needing calibration. Also, many State and municipal emergency response agencies have contacted us to re-calibrate and certify their current in-service radiological instruments. (FEMA sets 4 years as a maximum span between calibrations if the meter had always been shelf-bound, however if you know, or don't know if, your meter had been exposed to any rough handling, then sooner may be required. Regardless, most agencies mandate minimum 1 year re-certification schedules.) We can calibrate any of the CDV series survey meters and dosimeters and many other brands, as well. KI4U, Inc. is licensed and authorized by the State of Texas to perform these calibrations at our lab conforming to the standards as set forth by the State of Texas, FEMA, ASTM and the NRC. Complete details on having your Civil Defense survey meters, dosimeters, or any type radiation detector calibrated are here. FYI, if somehow you are ever stuck with an un-calibrated meter in a future nuclear emergency you might could find some use for it if a known calibrated meter is also handy. If/when the time comes and you find yourself in an actual radiation field, you could use it (the calibrated meter) to also test against your other (un-calibrated) meters reliability and accuracy. If one of your current, un-calibrated, meters reads high or low compared to the calibrated meter, then you could mark on it a correction factor denoting that meters particular variance from a true reading. This would allow you to then get some useful service out of it while keeping the correction factor in mind. (You can also actually attempt to 'field calibrate' many of the CDV series meters when exposed to radiation, if you can assure you don't allow contamination inside the unit, by studying their manual instructions detailing the internal adjustment calibration controls.) That's a much better use of un-calibrated instruments than having them sit on a shelf unused in an ongoing nuclear emergency or selling them to somebody else that doesn't know how important it is to only rely on a calibrated meter for protecting their own family.     Q: What other type meters, Civil Defense or not, are available? A: We have some other small quantities of calibrated Civil Defense low-range CD V-700's, and a few 'exotics', available that you can see here at http://www.radmeters4u.com/more.htm. There you'll see rugged 3-meters-in-one Aerial Fallout systems for use in airplanes to detect and map fallout. (Which work just fine for gamma detection here on the ground, too.) Also, Civil Defense fallout radiation barrier demonstration units that can be utilized by educational facilities or their detectors/meters possibly incorporated into a remote monitoring station. We also have some bench top G-M tube lab meters (CD V-457) and a limited number of 'enhanced' CD V-700's, as well as the external speakers (CD V-705's) and large probe housings for them, too. Details, pricing and ordering information for them all will be seen there at that page linked above. But, before going there, don't miss seeing the KFM kit, too, right below these photos here AND the NEW NukAlert 24/7 domino-sized keychain attachable personal alarm!   NukAlert™ Radiation Monitor and Alarm Patented! Complete details at www.NukAlert.com Carried everywhere your keys go, with NukAlert's 24/7 constant monitoring, you'll always be promptly alerted to the unseen, but acutely dangerous, levels of radiation if present. A benefit of the NukAlert™, not to be overlooked, is that it will also confirm when and where those high levels of radiation are not present, too. With the anticipated general public angst accompanying any future developing nuclear emergency it will be very reassuring to know with confidence that, for your locale, your family is out of the worst danger. Introduced at The Health Physics Society Convention 1/03 Compact Key Chain Attachable Radiation Monitor & Alarm Monitoring is "ON" 24/7 with long-life ten+ year battery Range encompasses the higher emergency radiation levels 10 distinct 'chirping' alarm levels - easily understood Patented 'State of the Art' Technology Proven and verified testing by National Radiological Lab Instruction manual with personal nuclear survival strategies 10 year warranty In-Stock for immediate shipping & quantity pricing available Complete details and NukAlert™ manual on-line at www.NukAlert.com ~~~ ORDER Your Families NukAlert™ 24/7 Monitors & Alarms HERE! ~~~ And, for a very inexpensive, non-FEMA, but serious Civil Defense radiation detector we offer our popular KFM kit or free plans... Kearney Fallout Radiation Meter (KFM) Kit From Oakridge National Labs Nuclear War Survival Skills, Chapter 10 Fallout Radiation Meters... "A survivor in a shelter that does not have a dependable meter to measure fallout radiation or that has one but lacks someone who knows how to use it will face a prolonged nightmare of uncertainties. Human beings cannot feel, smell, taste, hear, or see fallout radiation." "Which parts of the shelter give the best protection? How large is the radiation dose being received by each person? When is it safe to leave the shelter for a few minutes? When can one leave for an hour's walk to get desperately needed water? As the fallout continues to decay, how long can one safely work each day outside the shelter? When can the shelter be left for good? Only an accurate, dependable fallout meter will enable survivors to answer these life-or-death questions." "With a reliable dose rate meter you can quite quickly determine how great the radiation dangers are in different places, and then promptly act to reduce your exposure to these unseen, unfelt dangers. For example, if you go outside an excellent fallout shelter and learn by reading your dose rate meter that you are being exposed to 30 R/hr, you know that if you stay there for one hour you will receive a dose of 30 R. But if you go back inside your excellent shelter after 2 minutes, then while outside you will have received a dose of only 1 R." The KFM kit has everything needed to make and use a radiation measuring device. Accurately measures dose rates from 30 mR/hr (0.03 R/hr) up to 43 R/hr. The KFM has undergone rigorous scientific testing in several laboratories where its accuracy and dependability were confirmed. Including Oak Ridge National Laboratory where it was developed by Cresson H. Kearny, author of Nuclear War Survival Skills. Designed to be assembled by a junior high age student, thousands of KFM's have been built worldwide. The unit comes with very detailed construction, operating and testing instructions. Also includes a free (non-working) smoke detector to use as a safe radioactive testing source along with color indicating silica gel. And, it does not require a battery. Great science project, too! (Science teachers, be sure to see/read 'The KFM Story' below!) This kit is based on the plans in the Nuclear War Survival Skills book, Appendix C - A Homemade Fallout Meter, the KFM - How to Make and Use It (The kit also comes with these same plans as a 12 page tabloid style newspaper.) These plans were originally and specifically developed to be published in every newspaper in this country on the eve of serious nuclear saber rattling possibly leading up to WW III, so that every family in America would be able to construct their own fallout meter right at home! You can use these free plans and parts list to construct your own KFM from scratch, or acquire the KFM kit for $55 OR the NEW Ready-To-Use KFM for only $75.00! Either way, save the time of a scavenger hunt to gather up the required materials and many of the tools. The KFM kit also has MOST of the critical construction steps completed for you and can be operational within an hour! And, all the detailed (and essential) construction and operating instructions are always there with the KFM kit where they'll be needed. Including how to estimate the dangers from different radiation doses and how to use the KFM to reduce them. As Chapter 10 - Fallout Radiation Meters also explains... A KFM combines the provenly practical radiation measuring functions of an electroscope and of an ionization chamber having a specified volume. No radiation source is needed either to initially calibrate a KFM or subsequently to check its accuracy. (Calibrations for accuracy were completed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and are the basis of the KFM's attached table.) A KFM is more accurate than most civil defense instruments, and its accuracy is permanently established by the laws of physics applicable to the specified dimensions and other characteristics of its parts, and to their positioning relative to each other- provided that it is made and maintained according to the instructions. Unlike all factory-made radiation measuring civil defense instruments that are reliable and available today, a KFM is charged electrostatically. No battery is needed. Oh, and yes, it will do radon gas, too! Instructions included. But, it is not specifically certified by the EPA for this application. Endorsements for the above KFM kit... "This kit will save many lives" -Cresson Kearny "This [KFM kit] is very good." -Dr. Edward Teller "Every American should have two of these kits." -Art Robinson, Oregon Institue of Science and Medicine "It isnt pretty and won't win awards for sophistication, but under primitive conditions you'll also discover there is little to go wrong" -American Survival Guide, pg 12, 4/94 "We believe you have something [the KFM kit] to offer that turely could save many lives." -letter from Doctor for Disaster Preparedness, 10-13-96 "It is always refreshing and exciting to find a product [the KFM kit] that represents exceptional value." -Preparedness Journal, May/June, 1995, pg 22 "Makes a great Science experiment" -American College of Nuclear Physicians, in a flyer to its members telling them how to order KFM kits, 5-5-95 "[the KFM kit] is put together well." Marily DeWall, Associate Executive Director National Science Teacher Association , in an interoffice memo "every Science teacher should have one of these kits" -Professor Gary Sandquist, head of Nuclear Engineering School at University of Utah This KFM kit has also been sold by the Boston Museum of Science. A KFM KIT STORY Seven years ago Dr. Paul S. Lombardi, a junior high, high school and college science teacher put together a Kearny Radiation Meter kit. In June of 2002 he received the National Health Physics Society "Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year Award" for his work in teaching about radiation. Dr. Lombardi will tell you it began with the Kearny Radiation Meter Kit. He says "you have to excite students." He adds: "students need hands on material," and emphasizes "with real science!" The Kearny radiation meter gives all that. "Radiation" Dr. Lombardi explains, "is an area of science that is not taught to kids, they are totally ignorant." To teach these kids Dr. Lombardi uses the Kearny radiation meters because "they work! [the meters] "they're simple!" "you can build it in class and it's easy to explain why it works." Dr. Lombardi is very effusive in his praise of the Kearny meter. He receives no royalties or payment for his work with it or comments about it. He says "it [the Kearny meter] will detect high levels of radiation and very low levels." Lombardi explains that the concept of the Kearny meter is not new. Madam Curie used a similar instrument when she discovered the different types of radiation (Alpha, Beta, Gamma) nearly 100 years ago. The Kearny meter just takes this principle and simplifies it so anyone can make and use one. Lombardi says that once you understand the Kearny meter "then you can understand Geiger counters." He adds that many kids study atoms but never talk about things that come out of the nucleus or center of the atom, "that's radioactivity." Regarding teachers, Paul says "our job, or mission, is not fear." "It is understanding." He says that radiation isn't all bad and points out that there is radioactivity in our food, our bodies and that granite buildings are especially radioactive. "It doesn't all cause cancer." Many uses or radioactivity help us. He explains that smoke detectors are safe and they use radioactivity. "It's like gasoline, there are safe ways to handle it." Dr. Lombardi has done so much work with the Kearny meter that he made some slight changes that suited some classroom experiments. The changes he made in the classroom work in the field as well and were recognized by Cresson Kearny himself, the inventor of the Kearny radiation meter. So as not to confuse people the changed meter was named the "Lombardi Dose Rate Meter" and it is to be used for educational and training purposes only or as a field backup to the Kearny meter. It must never be used alone to measure dangerous levels of radioactivity. Again, Dr. Lombardi gets no payment for this work. He does get recognition for his contribution to science education. The instructions on how to build the Lombardi Dose Rate Meter are included in the Kearny Radiaion Meter kit as well as some exciting experiments. This testimony demonstrates that the Kearny Radiation Meter is not just a "doomsday" instrument. It trains and educates. By building and using the Kearny meter you gain knowledge. And knowledge dispels fear. Just as Dr. Lombardi was eventually led by his building of the KFM kit to become science teacher of the year, so might a child or young student by building the kit discover an area of interest that could lead him or her into a career in a nuclear related field, such as energy, medicine or industry. It's practical knowledge to have and it can save your life. Another distinguished educator has worked with the Kearny radiation meter, Professor Gary Sandquist, head of the Nuclear Engineering School at University of Utah. He is so confident about the meter that if his life depended on it he would choose the Kearny meter over the best electronic instrument made because in his words "it is more reliable." Professor Sandquist endorses the kit because he says, for a busy person "it just takes too much time to gather all the materials together." He also adds that the additional instructions in the kit on how to use the Kearny meter in the classroom, for experiments and field training, are worth the price of the kit alone. Professor Sandquist receive no pay or royalties for endorsing the Kearny Radiation meter kit. Get your families Kearney Fallout Radiation Meter (KFM) Kit here for only $55.00 OR the NEW Ready-To-Use KFM for only $75.00! Includes same-day shipping via USPS Priority Mail! Be Sure to Also Check Out Our... ADDITIONAL RELATED RESOURCES HOSTED ON-LINE HERE AT RadMeters4U.com OR ON OUR SISTER SITE KI4U.COM... THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT NUCLEAR DESTRUCTION! WHAT TO DO IF A NUCLEAR DISASTER IS IMMINENT! 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