~l50 This situation represents an extreme example, and the extensiveness of the skin effects could have been greatly reduced had proper measures been taken. Based on the experiences of these people during the critical fallout period and the skin legions that developed on an individual basis, the following facts emerge! i. Avoidance cf contact of fallout material on the skin by taking shelter or covering the body with clothing virtually eliminates the possibility of skin effects. 2. Prompt, thorough decontamination of the askin and hair is of utmost importance. Repeated scrubbing with soap or detergent and water may be necessary. If contamination of the heir is severe, it may be advisable to Clip the hair close or shave the head, Areas of the body where perspiration is more profuse tend to cause the fallout material tc collect. checked for contamination. Such areas should be carefully A warm, bumid climate will naturally aggravate this effect. 4. Moderately severe beta lesions of the skin and epilation may result from fallout situations in which the whole body penetrating dose of radiation ig sublethal. With such doses, the skin lesions do not appear to complicate the radiation syndrome. Se In situations where skin lesions are associated with larger doses of whole body radiation with marked leukopoenia, such lesions might become secondarily infected more easily and afford portals of entry leading to bacteremia or septicemia. Severe skin irradiation with minimal whole body irradiation might result in fallout situations where prempt evacuation from the cone taminated area occurred, but skin decontamination was delayed.