Evening star., 1942-07-21
0CD 10 Launch
v Home Check
On nPrecautions
To Provide Stickers
To Those Meeting
War Effort Standards

A nation wide program to make
sure that homes and business estab-
lishments have taken necessary air
raid precautions and are fully par
ticipating in the war effort was an
nounced today by Dean James M.
Lands, director of the Office of
Civilian Defense.
The program. which authorizes
local defense officials to award a
"V Home" window sticker to any
home which has taken precautions
and asserts it is following measures
to strengthen the war effort, is SINH
lar in some respects to the one an
nounced locally two weeks ago by
The Star.
Chief Air Raid Warden William j.
Mileham said he would follow the
national program, using its ~
Home certificate and having the
wardens ask the questions suggested
bv the national Office. These in
clude assurances that the occupants
of the home are conserving food,
clothing, transportation and health;
that they are salvaging essential
materials. refusing to spread rumors
and buying War Savings Stamps
and Bonds.
Would Honor Homes First.
Mr.. Mileham emphasized the pro-
tective measures as the main goal OF
the local program and said wardens
would soon be ready to distribute
the check lists on the basis of which
homes could be certified and owners
could put up the "V Home" stickers
in their windows.
The principal difference between
the national and local program is
that the national program calls for
a check of business concerns first
while Mr. Mileham is anxious to
concentrate on the homes first.
The official certificate for business
Establishments, including hotels,
large apartment buildings, stores,
shops, factories and office buildings,
attests that Afraid precautions
have been taken here"
Certificates for the business es-
Establishments are ready now, ma
tional OCD announced, but the
stickers for the home will not be
ready for month. Local defense
councils were given the privilege OF
reproducing these stickers for their
own use at their own expense If
they do not wish to wait for the
OCD to distribute them. What
would be done on that score has not
yet been decided here.
Inspection by Consent.
The national Office emphasized
that inspection of all property for
certification purposes would be sub
ject to the consent of the owner.
It is left to local defense councils
to decide how far it is necessary to
go in requiring blackout provisions,
a shelter room and fire fighting
equipment, depending on the part of
the country in which the home Is
| located.
The purpose OF this program,
Director Lands said, "is to make
sure that all homes and all business
establishments for which civilians
are responsible in strategic areas
have made the proper precautionary
arrangements for an air raid, ano
that American homes everywhere
are fully and actively enrolled ir
constructive war work.
Along with other Government
agencies. we have been urging Amer
leans to wage active warfare against
the enemy in their homes by salvag-
ing needed scrap, by buying Wal
bonds regularly by eliminating waste
and practicing intelligent buying
policies as to the necessities of life
and by enrolling for volunteer wal
work
Homes and business establish
ments which meet the standard,
upon which these certificates are tt
be awarded may rightfully take
pride in the fact that they are
integral fighting units on the home
front which, with the military front
and the production front. constitute
the lines upon which we shall defea'
the enemy"
Mr.. Mileham said local appnca
ton of the eight requirements fol
certif1cation of business establish.
ments will be discussed at meetint
Of deputy wardens of the various
types of concerns at air-raid warder
service headquarters tomorrow night
Business House Standards.
The following standards for bust
ness houses are listed by the nationa
Office:
l. Appointment of a defense co
: ordinator or establishment of
! centralized defense command.
, 2. Organization, training and test
ing of employees for civilian defens
5 protective services.
3. Provision and installation G
necessary equipment for the pro
tective services.
] 4. Provision of adequate mechani
? cal means by which all warning
, will be received and transmitted t
personnel or others on the premise
f 5. Tested provisions for immediat
. blackout of all lights visible outsid
2 the building.
/ 6. Recommended measures fC
protection of personnel and equip
ment from blasts or conclusion.
I 7. Establishment and maintenanc
I of liaison with local defense author
< ties, to assure cooperation in pre-
= tective measures affecting the SUI
rounding area or community
d s. Compliance, in general, wit
!, the recommendations contained
n the OCD instructional pamphle
I most applicable to the particuls
x type Of establishment.
t Robinson Will Head