The Disturbing Truth Behind The Four-Minute Warning

The first segment focused on the heat of a blast, which at the instance of detonation would be around 20,000,000 degrees Celsius. Approximately, the same temperature as the centre of the sun. The narrator quickly explained that those near the blast would burn, melt, or char. It’s quite fitting this episode aired on a Monday night…

Secondly, the documentary discussed the prospective blast of a nuclear bomb and the immediate destruction of buildings close by. The detonation would be followed by 2,000 mph winds, strong enough to level many reinforced concrete buildings. Anything in the range of 50 squared miles would be toast. The programme then focused on the effects of flying glass, using a pumpkin as a subject.

Joy and Alice, a couple living in North London, are introduced, representing a typical couple. They were shown following instructions from the Protect and Survive pamphlet in a methodical manner to maximise their safety from the fallout. However, the narrator casually states that they were able to survive for about seventeen seconds until a shockwave from the original explosion wiped them out.

The documentary finally illustrated the effects of fallout. The narrator simply stated that after being exposed to 1,000 rads, victims will begin to experience nausea and diarrhoea. After two weeks, the victim’s hair would have fallen out. Finally, after three months of exposure, the victim would suffer bleeding gums, prominent bruising, and death.

Going back to its opening question, the documentary states that luck is an essential ingredient for survival. However, after detailing various psychological issues seemingly impossible to endure after such devastation, it changed the question from, 'is it possible to survive,' to, 'is it even worth it?'

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