The Nuclear Bunker Experiment

 The Nuclear Bunker Experiment might be over but this video, recorded inside the bunker the day before departure into the apocalyptic world, highlighted ten lessons learnt while taking part in the experiment.....

Even with martial law imposed across the country, the desperation of the population is leading some to venture outdoors in the search of food and water. Shops have been looted and lives have been lost as anarchy takes over. While radiation levels are dropping after the nuclear bomb blast, it is still not safe to be walking around.  Meanwhile, underground in his nuclear bunker robmacca has been surviving on rations. Waiting for the time when it will be safe to go outdoors once again, tentatively listening to radio broadcast updates while in solitude.  But nowhere is truly safe and in the dead of night robmacca is awakened by the sound of activity above the bunker. Will they break in? 

 Almost a week since an nuclear bomb detonated in the centre of London and deep inside his nuclear bunker 100 miles away, robmacca is struggling for survival. The isolation and depleting fresh food are beginning to reach critical.  Outside the bunker, looting and anarchy have taken over as civilisation adjusts to the new normal after a nuclear war. Food and water stocks have already been stolen and homes are the next target as people become more and more desperate. What is left of law and order remains on a thread as the government tries to regain control of society and coordinate supplies. But will they be too late? How much longer can robmacca survive inside the nuclear bunker before needing to go back into the nuclear destroyed world?

  As the fresh food begins to dwindle or get mouldy inside the nuclear bunker, it's time for imagination. The meal is set to become an unusual concoction, but when you are trying to survive without supermarkets in a post apocalyptic world - beggars can't be choosers!

  As the hours and days go by locked away inside the nuclear bunker, slowly the power banks and batteries begin to die. While there were plenty of batteries stocked up, the first casualty of being unable to reach working electrical power points, is the spare tablet computer. The fear of losing years of memories before the nuclear war become very apparent. There is no more cloud services and the data could be lost forever.  Will all the memories from before the nuclear war vanish like the people that were killed as the bombs dropped around the world?

  It's reached a critical moment inside the #NuclearBunkerExperiment - will robmacca be able to poo inside the bunker and then live with the smell or will he leave and face radiation poisoning outside the safety of the underground bunker? Not being allowed outside the 12ft by 6ft bunker brings many challenges and as the hours pass, there are certain challenges that outweighs others. It was bad enough having to urinate into a waste bin but now it is the ultimate test - being able to poo while inside the bunker without running water. What will happen?

  Remember when making breakfast was easy in the outside world? Inside the #NuclearBunkerExperiment life is far from easy, even for something as simple as breakfast. So many different factors to consider when you don't have the comforts of the kitchen or electricity. After the nuclear war, it's not like you can pop to the supermarket and stock up on fresh morning goods. Life inside the bunker will get harder as the fresh fruit is eaten and the bread becomes mouldy but robmacca, armed with a sharp knife, aims to make the most of his breakfast without causing himself an injury (there might not be any medical staff available after he resurfaces into the real world!)

  Apart from the lack of caffeine and hot drinks, robmacca has been missing listening to the radio. Suddenly he remembers there is a radio inside the nuclear bunker that had been put there for such a time as this. Has he got batteries though? There is no electricity working since the nuclear bomb dropped 2 days ago, it's still not safe to venture outside because of radiation but can the radio provide some sort of comfort during these dark days? Tune in and find out......

 Have you ever had to hold your bladder for so long it hurts? This is what has happened to robmacca during his first night inside the nuclear bunker. We are so used to the convenience of toilets and running water but when disaster strikes we have to find alternative means to go.  Normally the alternative is to go outside or dig a hole outside but there is no cesspit inside the bunker and the moment has come when it's got to the point of bursting. Find out what happens next ......

  Living in a bunker to escape disasters could still end up with accidental death if you don't have proper ventilation installed (especially during a nuclear war). We still have to breathe but that means carbon monoxide could become dangerously high within a confined, unventilated space. One simple action that could save your life, would be fitting a battery operated carbon monoxide alarm. At least then you could become aware of the dangers before they become potentially fatal. The alarm would also detect carbon monoxide from gas cooking appliances, thus warning you of any danger and allowing you to find a solution.

  Hygiene while trying to survive inside a bunker is of paramount importance - especially since clean running water and toilet facilities will not be available if a nuclear emergency took place. According to the book Nuclear War Survival Skills , "water-borne diseases probably would kill more survivors of a nuclear attack than would fallout- contaminated water." Therefore the storage of clean fallout free water would be life saving. Bottled water can be purchased cheaply and stored for quite a long time. Care should be taken once opened or using alternative means of water storage.  We all need to go to the toilet and take it for granted how easily waste products are removed from our homes each time we need to use the toilet - but imagine if the power supplies vanish and flushing no longer works. Added to this, imagine you are trying to survive underground in a bunker without running water or proper toilet facilities...... the smells, the germs and the danger to health are all...

  When you are prepping for a disaster, there will always be other problems that come along the way. The nuclear bunker is meant to be a safe place from war, but you also want to be safe inside from health risks. The discovery of mould in one corner of the wooden roof required urgent action.   Imagine if there is were a leak in the roof and radioactive water enters the bunker, this would be disastrous for anybody inside trying to live and survive during a nuclear war. The word inside the bunker is untreated so applying bleach sprays would damage the wood. Thankfully there are alternatives we can use and this video highlights this.  Being locked away inside the bunker for an unspecified time with mould could be very hazardous for breathing. That is why urgent action was needed. Any leaks or breaches to the exterior of the nuclear bunker would have to be repaired before a disaster struck, because any exposure to radiation could result in serious heal...

Spent the day finally sorting the bunker out - I had been using the space to store junk and other items instead of prepping for emergencies. If a disaster had occurred, I was definitely not ready. Thankfully every shopping trip meant I could slowly stock up on food, cleaning items and essentials for an emergency. The bed linen has been changed and the portaloo prepared with chemicals. The lack of space would be a problem and I've got a feeling it would be a challenge mentally. Hopefully any emergency situation would still mean there is electricity, otherwise it's cold food, drinks and no electronic luxuries!