This booklet presents to the American people the facts they need to know about the dangers of a thermonuclear attack and what they can do to protect themselves. The factual information in this booklet has been verified by independent scientific authority, and represents the best consensus of the scientific community.
The booklet also describes the national civil defense program and gives precautions in the light of knowledge of what might happen and our evaluation of scientific facts. Its purpose is to save lives if a nuclear attack should ever come to America. Certain preparations could mean the difference between life and death for you. There is no panacea for protection from nuclear attack. In a major attack upon our country millions of people would be killed. An effective program of civil defense could save the lives of millions who not otherwise survive.
In the words of President Kennedy, “ In the event of attack, the lives of those families which are not hit in the nuclear blast and fire can still be saved if they can be warned to take shelter and if that shelter is available. We owe that kind of insurance to our families and to our country.”
Topics Covered
- Words to Know
- Some Basic Facts
- Effects of a 5-megaton burt
- Danger of Fire storms
- Exposure to radiation
- Long term effects of radiation
- Evacuation vs shelter
- A Nuclear Explosion: First, The Blast
- Next: Fallout Starts Descending
- Group Action: Community Shelters
- Individual Action: Family Shelters
- Last Minute Improvised Measures
- Shelter Supplies
- Emergency Housekeeping
- Food
- Ventilation
- Radiation Sickness
- Sanitation
- First Steps Towards Recovery
- Organizing for civil defense
