How to behave in the shelling and bombardment
In anxious times, it is worth hoping for the best, but it is important to be prepared for any development of events. Let them never need the rules of action in case of being hit by shelling or bombardment: what to do, where to run and how to hide? Advises veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Andrei Kulish.Sudden shelling
If you heard the whistle of the projectile (it looks more like a rustle), and after 2-3 seconds - an explosion, immediately fall to the ground. Do not panic: the very fact that you hear the sound of the flight itself means that the projectile flew far enough away from you, and those seconds before the explosion only confirmed a fairly safe distance. However, the next projectile will fly closer to you, so instead of complacency, quickly and carefully look around: where can you hide more safely?
In case the shelling caught you in a minibus, trolleybus or tram - you should immediately stop the transport, run away from the road in the direction "from buildings and structures" and lie down on the ground. Look around and look for a more secure shelter nearby. It is necessary to cross short quick throws immediately after the next explosion.
If the first explosions caught you on the road in your own car - do not expect that you will be able to quickly get away from the shelling by car: you will never know in which direction the fire will be transferred, and whether firing, say, from mortars will start further. In addition, the gas tank of your car adds a dangerous risk of burning. Therefore, again: immediately stop the car and quickly seek shelter.
Not suitable for shelter:
- Entrances of any buildings, even small attached structures. From multi-storey / apartment buildings in general, you should run at least meters on 30-50;
- Places under different equipment (for example, under the truck or under the bus);
- Ordinary ZhEKovskie basements of houses. They are completely unsuitable for sheltering air strikes or rocket and artillery shelling in time (this is about weak ceilings, lack of emergency exits, ventilation, etc.). There is a big risk of being under massive rubble. The blockage of such basements entails the risk of instant fire or smoke.
You should never hide outside under the walls of modern buildings! The current concrete "boxes" do not have the slightest margin of safety and are easily scattered (or "folded") not only from a direct hit, but even from a strong blast wave: there is a big risk of landslides and debris. It is also impossible to hide under the walls of offices and shops: from the blast wave a lot of glass will fall from above; it is no less dangerous than metal fragments of shells.
Sometimes people instinctively hide among any piles, in places laid by containers, crammed with drawers, building materials, etc. (the subconscious reflex comes into play: to hide so as not to see anything). This mistake is dangerous because there may be flammable objects and substances around you: there is a risk of being among a sudden fire.
Sometimes, out of fear, people jumped into the river, into a pond, a fountain, etc. An explosion of a bomb or a projectile in water, even at a considerable distance, is very dangerous: a strong water hammer and - as a result - a heavy concussion.
You can hide in the following places:
- In a specially equipped bomb shelter (if lucky). From an ordinary ZHEKovsky basement, a real bomb shelter is distinguished by a thick, reliable ceiling overhead, a ventilation system and the presence of two (or more) exits to the surface;
- In the underpass;
- In the subway (perfect);
- In any ditch, trench or pit;
- In the wide drain pipe under the road (you should not climb too deep, maximum on 3-4 meters);
- Along the high curb or foundation of the fence;
- In a very deep basement under the capital houses of the old buildings (it is desirable that he had 2 output);
- In the underground vegetable storage, silage pit, etc .;
- In the observation pit of an open (in the air) garage or service station;
- In the sewer manhole next to your house, this is a very good cache (but do you have enough strength to quickly open a heavy piece of iron? It’s also important that it was a sewage system or water supply - not a gas pipeline by any means!)
- In the pits, "funnels" left over from previous shelling or air raids.
In the worst case - when there is no cover in sight, where you can run across in one quick throw - just lie down on the ground and lie with your head covered with your hands! The vast majority of shells and bombs explode in the top layer of soil or asphalt, so the fragments at the time of the explosion fly at a height of at least 30-50 cm above the surface.
So, the general rule: your shelter must be at least minimally in-depth and, at the same time, must be located away from structures that can fall on you from the top in a direct hit, or they can catch fire. Ideal protection is provided by a trench or ditch (similar to a trench) 1-2 meter deep, in an open area.
Hiding in the shelter, lie down and clasp your head with your hands. Open your mouth a little - it will save you from a concussion when you close a shell or bomb.
Do not panic. Borrow your psyche with something. You can count the explosions: know that the maximum after the 100-th explosion, the shelling will definitely end. You can try to mentally count the minutes.
First, it is a distraction. Secondly, so you can navigate the situation: artillery shelling does not last forever, a maximum of twenty minutes; airstrike - significantly less. Nowadays there are no long bombardments, large groups of bombers do not apply.
After the end of the shelling (bombardment)
Leaving the place of refuge, do not let yourself relax. Now all your attention should be concentrated under your feet! Do not pick up any objects unfamiliar to you: the bomb, rocket or projectile could be a cluster!
Combat elements often burst when dropped, but can explode later, in the hands - from the slightest movement or touch. All attention - to children and teenagers: do not let them lift something from under your feet!
The greatest casualties in the Yugoslav conflict were at the very beginning of the war among civilians who were caught with lightning speed: the lack of training and compliance with elementary rules is a great danger that can be avoided.
And let the above rules never be used by anyone.
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