Last Minute Measures

In the nuclear age, nobody can guarantee you so many minutes, hours, or days of warning time. An enemy ultimatum might set a deadline; enemy bombers could be tracked while hours away; but enemy missiles could arrive unannounced. However, even the briefest warning you might get by radio or sirens would give you precious, live-saving time to act.

A 3- to 5-minute STEADY TONE, meaning, turn on your radio for directions from local authorities.

There are at least two situations that could increase the severity of the danger you would face: a plan of action but no time to put it into effect, or time to act but no plan of action – no shelter, for example.

Your first warning of nuclear attack could be the flash of an explosion. Don't look at it. Quick action during the next few seconds could save your life.

If you are inside, dive under or behind the nearest desk, table, sofa or other piece of sturdy furniture. Try to get in a shadow; it will help shade you from the heat. Lie curled on your side with your hands over the back of your neck, knees tucked against your chest. Stay away from windows, or turn your back to them – they admit heat rays and also may shatter.

If you are outside, run into a building and assume the same curled-up position. If possible, face a corner.

If you cannot get into a building, seek the lowest, most protected spot, such as a ditch, gutter or depression in a lawn. Lie in the curled position. Face away from loose or breakable objects.

If you are far enough away from the explosion you may feel no effect at all. But stay put for five minutes to be sure. By then the blast effects will have passed or lost their force. You will have at least half an hour to find fallout protection.

If you have no basement, you can improvise a shelter by digging a trench next to the house, and making a lean-to structure with house doors. Pile the dirt from the trench and other heavy objects on top of the doors and at the sides for as much radiation shielding as possible.

If you should receive warning of an attack but do not have a plan of action – no shelter to go to, for example – your first actions should be to guard against the hazards of fires set by the heat of a nuclear explosion. Get rid of such quick-burning things as oily rags, curtains, and lampshades. Get rid of old newspapers and magazines, or stack them in the basement if you plan to improvise a fallout shelter there. Shut off the main electric and gas lines until the fire danger has passed. If your house has venetian blinds, lower and shut them to bar flying glass and screen out some of the blast's fierce heat. Fill buckets, sinks, a bathtub, and other containers with water.

Then turn your attention to fallout protection. There are six general guidelines to keep in mind for improvising last-minute fallout protection:

1. A basement is usually better than aboveground floors, particularly in private residences. (In large commercial or civic buildings, however, the central areas of middle floors could offer good protection.)

2. A corner of a basement that is below ground level is better that the center of the basement.

4. When improvising shelter, keep it small. Concentrate the shielding mass immediately all around and above you to conserve construction time.

5. Stay away from windows and outside doorways. They are weak points in your fallout shield. Also, windows could be shattered many miles beyond the severe blast damage area of a nuclear explosion.

6. If caught in the open, try to get to some substantial structure, such as a large commercial or civic building, a tunnel, or cave. If none of these is readily available, look for a culvert, underpass or ditch – anything that will get you below ground level – and improvise a shelter.

and