The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) Paul Muschick column

Jan. 10--Most of us probably have shrugged off the recent bragging about who has the bigger nuclear button as just two egomaniacs shooting off their mouths. The people we rely on to keep us safe can't dismiss the threat so easily.

Next week, public health officials will hold a conference about what has been done to prepare America to survive a nuclear detonation. The timing, just a few weeks after all that button smack talk, is just a coincidence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told me its session has been in the works since early last year and has nothing to do with the friction between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

"Public Health Response to Nuclear Detonation" is part of an ongoing series designed to ensure the public health community is prepared for all types of threats. Future gatherings will tackle the issues of global childhood vaccinations and the elimination of hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Of course, the nuclear talk scheduled for 1 p.m.Jan. 16 has drawn more attention than previous sessions because of the political climate. If you're curious, you can watch a webcast at cdc.gov/cdcgrandrounds/.

Federal and state health officials will talk about how to prepare for and respond to a nuclear explosion.

"While a nuclear detonation is unlikely, it would have devastating results and there would be limited time to take critical protection steps," the CDC says on its website about the session. "Despite the fear surrounding such an event, planning and preparation can lessen deaths and illness. For instance, most people don't realize that sheltering in place for at least 24 hours is crucial to saving lives and reducing exposure to radiation."

It's good that the experts take the threat of nuclear war seriously. It would be better if Trump and Kim would start acting like world leaders and button up their talk of Armageddon.

paul.muschick@mcall.com

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Paul Muschick's columns are published Monday through Friday at themorningcall.com and Sunday, Wednesday and Friday in The Morning Call. Follow me on Facebook at PaulMuschickColumns, Twitter @mcwatchdog and mcall.com/muschick.

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