Electromagnetic pulse (EMP), Part II: Field-expedient ways to minimize its effects on field medical treatment facilities.

Part I of this paper showed that a field commander can expect approximately 65% of his unprotected electronic medical equipment to be damaged by the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) from a single nuclear detonation as far as 2200 km away. Using computer modeling, field-expedient ways to minimize the effects of EMP were studied. The results were: (1) keep wiring near the ground, (2) keep wiring short, (3) unplug unused equipment, (4) run power cabling and tents in a magnetic north-south direction (avoid running power cabling in the east-west direction), and (5) place sensitive equipment in International Organization for Standardization shelters.