A Historical Look at Survival Under Attack | Learn How to be Prepared

Back in the days of the Cold War, the US Government as well as its citizens were apprehensive of a potential nuclear bomb attack from Russia.? To that end, the US Department of Civil Defense was active in issuing all kinds of educational material to the public with the twofold intent of informing citizens how to shelter in the event of a nuclear bomb attack while at the same time assuring them that the likelihood of danger was minimal.? Seems contradictory to me, but then, over the years the government has not changed much and I am certain that then, as now, contradiction was considered ?business as usual?.

A Short History Lesson

Interestingly enough, as I look back, right around 1970 and 1971 and at the beginning of my career, I actually worked at a decommissioned Nike missile base in Bothell, Washington (near Seattle).? The underground building had been converted in to a bunkered office for the then-called Office of Emergency Preparedness.? It was one of six similar centers built during the late 1960s.? The structure itself was totally subterranean and it was designed to be reasonably survivable in the event of natural or man-made disasters.? (It now serves as the Region Eight headquarters for FEMA.)

The missile?s housed in Bothell were the Nike Hercules.? These nuclear-tipped anti-aircraft missiles were intended to protect Seattle and environs from Soviet bombers, should war break out. They were removed in 1974.

Today I am sharing with you some of the materials that were published by the Office of Civil Defense during the cold war era.? Depending on your perspective, you may consider the materials to be educational, humorous, silly or simply another instance of control seeking propaganda.? Regardless of how you feel about it, I find the materials to be a fascinating glimpse in to our not so distant history.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

Survival Under Atomic Attack:? The Book

Survival Under Atomic Attack was the title of a booklet issued by the Civil Defense Office in 1950.? It consisted of 32 pages including four pages in the center of the booklet that we designed to be removed and used as a quick reference.? The exact words were:? ?Remove this sheet and keep it with you until you?ve memorized it.?

KILL THE MYTHS

ATOMIC WEAPONS WILL NOT DESTROY THE EARTH
Atomic bombs hold more death and destruction than man ever before has wrapped up in a single package, but their over-all power still has very definite limits. Not even hydrogen bombs will blow the earth apart or kill us all by radioactivity.

DOUBLING BOMB POWER DOES NOT DOUBLE DESTRUCTION
Modern A-bombs can cause heavy damage 2 miles away, but doubling their power would extend that range only to 2.5 miles. To stretch the damage range from 2 to 4 miles would require a weapon more than 8 times the rated power of present models.

RADIOACTIVITY IS NOT THE BOMB?S GREATEST THREAT
In most atom raids, blast and heat are by far the greatest dangers that people must face. Radioactivity alone would account for only a small percentage of all human deaths and injuries, except in underground or underwater explosions.

RADIATION SICKNESS IS NOT ALWAYS FATAL
In small amounts, radioactivity seldom is harmful. Even when serious radiation sickness follows a heavy dosage, there is still a good chance for recovery.

Six Survival Secrets For Atomic Attacks

1. Try To Get Shielded
If you have time, get down in a basement or subway. Should you unexpectedly be caught out-of-doors, seek shelter alongside a building, or jump in any handy ditch or gutter.

2. Drop Flat On Ground Or Floor
To keep from being tossed about and to lessen the chances of being struck by falling and flying objects, flatten out at the base of a wall, or at the bottom of a bank.

3. Bury Your Face In Your Arms
When you drop flat, hide your eyes in the crook of your elbow. That will protect your face from flash burns, prevent temporary blindness and keep flying objects out of your eyes.

4. Don?t Rush Outside Right After A Bombing
After an air burst, wait a few minutes then go help to fight fires. After other kinds of bursts wait at least 1 hour to give lingering radiation some chance to die down.

5. Don?t Take Chances With Food Or Water In Open Containers
To prevent radioactive poisoning or disease, select your food and water with care. When there is reason to believe they may be contaminated, stick to canned and bottled things if possible.

6. Don?t Start Rumors
In the confusion that follows a bombing, a single rumor might touch off a panic that could cost your life.

Five Keys To Household Safety

1. Strive For ?Fireproof Housekeeping?
Don?t let trash pile up, and keep waste paper in covered containers. When an alert sounds, do all you can to eliminate sparks by shutting off the oil burner and covering all open flames.

2. Know Your Own Home
Know which is the safest part of your cellar, learn how to turn off your oil burner and what to do about utilities.

3. Have Emergency Equipment And Supplies Handy
Always have a good flashlight, a radio, first-aid equipment and a supply of canned goods in the house.

4. Close All Windows And Doors And Draw The Blinds
If you have time when an alert sounds, close the house up tight in order to keep out fire sparks and radioactive dusts and to lessen the chances of being cut by flying glass. Keep the house closed until all danger is past.

5. Use the Telephone Only For True Emergencies
Do not use the phone unless absolutely necessary. Leave the lines open for real emergency

If you are interested in reading the full text or downloading the full booklet, you can find it here:

Full text available to read online (and a good read!): Survival Under Atomic Attack
Scanned copy of the original booklet in PDF format:? Survival Under Atomic Attack

Survival Under Atomic Attack: The Movie

There is more.? In 1950, The Office of Civil Defense also prepared a short movie in 1950 explaining the dangers of the atomic bomb, the effects of radiation and how to protect oneself if caught in the open or in the home. The movie is, of course, in the public domain so don?t get suckered into buying it when you can view it online or download it for free.

You can also download the movie Survival Under Attack Movie here (check out the download options the left part of the screen.)

The Final Word

As cynical as I tend to be these days, I find that some of the information ? though dated ? is still valid.? Yes, some seems kind of silly and misinformed given what we know now.? But still, the slice of history represented in the book and the movie are significant to understanding that back in the day, preparedness was alive and well, albeit misguided by today?s standards.

In closing, I have one more short clip to share.? As you listen, keep in mind that his was produced in 1961.? So perhaps we are not the first generation to prep . . . and also not the first to have a bit of fun!

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

. . . Your comments welcome here and at The Buzz.

Like this? You might also like:

From the Bargain Bin: Survival is all about learning to fend for yourself. Here are some of the emergency medical supplies that belong in every household first aid kit ? and every bomb shelter!

The Doom and Bloom(tm) Survival Medicine Handbook: Keep your loved ones healthy in every disaster, from wildfires to a complete societal collapse:? This book will teach you how to deal with all the likely medical issues you will face in a disaster situation, and shows you strategies to keep your family healthy even in the worse scenarios. You?ll learn skills like performing a physical exam, transporting the injured patient, and even how to suture a wound.? This medical reference belongs in every survival library!

Quikclot Sport Brand Advanced Clotting Sponge: A must for any first aid or emergency kit, Quikclot Sport stops moderate to severe bleeding until further medical help is available.

Israeli Battle Dressing, 6-inch Compression Bandage: This is another inexpensive, yet critical item. Combat medics, trauma doctors, and emergency responders all recommend this Israeli Battle Dressing (IBD) for the treatment of gunshot wounds, puncture wounds, deep cuts, and other traumatic hemorrhagic injuries.

Where There Is No Doctor: Hesperian?s classic manual, Where There Is No Doctor, is perhaps the most widely-used health care manual in the world. About $20. Also available as a free download at the Hesperian website

Adventure Medical Kits Pocket Survival Pack or Adventure Medical Kits Outfitter Kit: Adventure Medical Kit products are well priced and with an excellent reputation among outdoor types such as fishermen and hunters. This is a good place to start if you are looking for a pre-packaged kit.

The Pill Book (15th Edition): New and Revised: For nine bucks, there is no reason not to have this book in your emergency medical kit.

Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets (Pack of 10): For less than $8, this pack of 10 is a great deal. Free shipping too.

Omron Series Blood Pressure Wrist Unit: We personally would not be without one of these units.

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