[RightWhale]

thats not going to give you any real protection against fallout radiation

That's right. The main protections against fallout radiation are either a solid massive barrier such as several feet of non-radioactive dirt, or distance, or a combination. In the center area [with no windows] of the second floor of a large 3-storey office building would be better than nothing. That might be the men's room.

If one must ingest radioactive substances in the water, air, and food, it won't matter how protected the thyroid is. If one goes outdoors for extended periods of time, it won't matter, it just won't matter after a while.

[Freedom4US]

It *will* protect the thyroid, an otherwise easy target for radiation. They talked about distributing the pills in the 50's and 60's but decided against it, not wanting to "alarm" the public. The Soviet Union had no such qualms. That they are distributing them now is not necessarily good news when you think about it.