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Mysterious government issued tablets

  • 06-11-2018 12:45PM
    #1
    pekitivey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭pekitivey


    So, when i was about seven or eight I have a very vague memory of my mother receiving some sort of "special tablet" from the "government" in case of "war". I spoke about this to someone recently and they too had a memory of something similar. It was hardly cyanide that was being dolled out, so what were these "special tablets"?


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Comments

  • #2
    com1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 470 ✭✭com1


    pekitivey wrote: »
    So, when i was about seven or eight I have a very vague memory of my mother receiving some sort of "special tablet" from the "government" in case of "war". I spoke about this to someone recently and they too had a memory of something similar. It was hardly cyanide that was being dolled out, so what were these "special tablets"?
    Iodine


  • #3
    Cuddlesworth
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,030 ✭✭✭✭Cuddlesworth


    Iodine. Which went off in a few years. Big waste of money.


  • #4
    DM-BM
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 338 ✭✭DM-BM


    iodine in 2001 after 9/11


  • #5
    pekitivey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭pekitivey


    Cuddlesworth wrote: »
    Iodine. Which went off in a few years. Big waste of money.

    How was it meant to be used?


  • #6
    Sardonicat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,477 ✭✭✭✭Sardonicat


    pekitivey wrote: »
    So, when i was about seven or eight I have a very vague memory of my mother receiving some sort of "special tablet" from the "government" in case of "war". I spoke about this to someone recently and they too had a memory of something similar. It was hardly cyanide that was being dolled out, so what were these "special tablets"?
    Iodine tablets. In the event Sellafield was sabotaged/ blew up and the radiation cloud blew this way. Apparently we shouldn't be worried about that anymore as no further tablets have been issued. If it does happen, OP, eat an onion and you'll be grand.


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  • #7
    Princess Consuela Bananahammock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,779 ✭✭✭✭Princess Consuela Bananahammock


    Anti-radiation and nuclear fallout i thought - think it was pre 9/11 though.

    Everything I don't like is either woke or fascist - possibly both - pick one.



  • #8
    zell12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,353 ✭✭✭✭zell12


    pekitivey wrote: »
    How was it meant to be used?
    In a special way


  • #9
    pekitivey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭pekitivey


    Sardonicat wrote: »
    Iodine tablets. In the event Sellafield was sabotaged/ blew up and the radiation cloud blew this way. Apparently we shouldn't be worried about that anymore as no further tablets have been issued. If it does happen, OP, eat an onion and you'll be grand.

    So take one of them tablets in case of fallout and you'll be grand?


  • #10
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,422 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    pekitivey wrote: »
    So take one of them tablets in case of fallout and you'll be grand?


    You'll be bombproof.


  • #11
    Jerry Millions Meteorology
    Posts: 7,522 ✭✭✭ Jerry Millions Meteorology


    news article on the subject for those interested


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  • #12
    Jerry Millions Meteorology
    Posts: 7,522 ✭✭✭ Jerry Millions Meteorology


    But to answer your question OP, the iodine protects your organs from nuclear fallout. I think mainly the thyroid.


  • #13
    Sardonicat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,477 ✭✭✭✭Sardonicat


    pekitivey wrote: »
    Sardonicat wrote: »
    Iodine tablets. In the event Sellafield was sabotaged/ blew up and the radiation cloud blew this way. Apparently we shouldn't be worried about that anymore as no further tablets have been issued. If it does happen, OP, eat an onion and you'll be grand.

    So take one of them tablets in case of fallout and you'll be grand?
    They're well gone off by now, so no you wouldn't be grand if you took one now.

    Iodine apparently has some useful effect in preventing/ treating radiation sickness. Don't ask me what or how. I'm sure someone who does know will be along in a while to explain. But onions are high in Iodine, so if Sellafield blows I'm eating one.


  • #14
    El Tarangu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,649 ✭✭✭El Tarangu


    They were suppositories, if I remember correctly - I remember my uncle showing me how to take them.


  • #15
    B0jangles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,950 ✭✭✭B0jangles


    If I remember correctly one of the effects of a nuclear reactor blowing up is the release of radioactive iodine, which would be stored in your thyroid and which would be very bad for you.

    If you take iodine pills before you're exposed to the radioactive iodine, the thyroid won't absorb it because it'll already be full of ordinary iodine!


  • #16
    Muscles Schultz
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 301 ✭✭Muscles Schultz


    pekitivey wrote: »
    How was it meant to be used?

    Ram it up your hole til you orgasm


  • #17
    valoren
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,707 ✭✭✭valoren


    pekitivey wrote: »
    How was it meant to be used?

    I think it was something to do with Sellafield nuclear reactor.

    Suicidal terrorists were now crashing planes into buildings and should they decide to hit that reactor then the prevailing winds would have carried the nuclear fallout to Ireland and would cause radiation sickness. The tablets were to be taken to mitigate the effects.


  • #18
    BeerFarts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 132 ✭✭BeerFarts


    I'm still bitter that I never got a pack. I was destined to die in a nuclear fallout.


  • #19
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    DM-BM wrote: »
    iodine in 2001 after 9/11

    It was as a result of Chernobyl not 9/11.


  • #20
    Jerry Millions Meteorology
    Posts: 7,522 ✭✭✭ Jerry Millions Meteorology


    El Tarangu wrote: »
    They were suppositories, if I remember correctly - I remember my uncle showing me how to take them.

    Son I don’t know how to tell you this..


  • #21
    pekitivey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭pekitivey


    Did not expect a response this clear! I was convinced it was a dream or cyanide. One of which is more likely than the other.


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  • #22
    SEPT 23 1989
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43,038 ✭✭✭✭SEPT 23 1989


    Mitsubishi's


  • #23
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    BeerFarts wrote: »
    I'm still bitter that I never got a pack. I was destined to die in a nuclear fallout.

    Same here, we never got any. It was amusing that the same number of tablets was sent to each house regardless if the number of occupants and there were no instructions as to dosage.


  • #24
    Sardonicat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,477 ✭✭✭✭Sardonicat


    Zaid Zealous Schoolmaster wrote: »
    DM-BM wrote: »
    iodine in 2001 after 9/11

    It was as a result of Chernobyl not 9/11.
    It took them 15 years to send out the iodine tablets?


  • #25
    pekitivey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭pekitivey


    SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »
    Mitsubishi's

    AHAHAHAHAHAHA.

    Most people here wont get that I bet.


  • #26
    valoren
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,707 ✭✭✭valoren


    Have a look through the drawer at home like the one below. Every house has a drawer like it. I'd bet some still have the tablets in it too.

    junk+drawer+before.JPG


  • #27
    pekitivey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭pekitivey


    Zaid Zealous Schoolmaster wrote: »
    Same here, we never got any. It was amusing that the same number of tablets was sent to each house regardless if the number of occupants and there were no instructions as to dosage.

    Someone above posted a link. that explains dosage etc.


  • #28
    B0jangles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,950 ✭✭✭B0jangles


    valoren wrote: »
    Have a look through the drawer at home like the one below. Every house has a drawer like it. I'd bet some still have the tablets in it too.


    I bet that the very instant you feel a cold coming on, all those tissues will vanish.


    That is the mysterious power of the Stuff Drawer.


  • #29
    Plumbthedepths
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,653 ✭✭✭✭Plumbthedepths


    Issued after Chernobyl in the 80's. Idea is iodine protects the thyroid gland from the effects of radiation. The government of the day had to be seen to be doing something in response to the crisis at the time.


  • #30
    Jerry Millions Meteorology
    Posts: 7,522 ✭✭✭ Jerry Millions Meteorology


    B0jangles wrote: »
    I bet that the very instant you feel a cold coming on, all those tissues will vanish.


    That is the mysterious power of the Stuff Drawer.

    Its like when you get a headache and suddenly all your paracetamol is gone. And the chemist is closed. Classic is that.


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  • #31
    For Forks Sake
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,487 ✭✭✭✭For Forks Sake


    Plumbthedepths wrote: »
    Issued after Chernobyl in the 80's. Idea is iodine protects the thyroid gland from the effects of radiation. The government of the day had to be seen to be doing something in response to the crisis at the time.

    Chernobyl was 1986, the iodine tablets weren't issued until 2002.

    Actually now that I've typed that, 16 years is about right for a government decision making timeframe.


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