The fallout from an atomic bomb or a nuclear accident can have devastating consequences long after the event. But more specifically, anybody caught within the immediate vicinity of such a catastrophe and survives it will very likely suffer the horrifying effects of what's known as acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Otherwise known as radiation sickness, ARS is damage to your body caused by a large dose of radiation. It's a painful and incredibly distressing condition, and usually fatal. But what are the symptoms of ARS, and is it contagious?
Click through and take in these uncomfortable facts.