Evening star., 1950-12-28
Civil Defense BookIe'
Gives First Standard
Treatment Of Burns
By Crosby S. Moves

1ectS or enemy WeaponS-from
atom bombs to nerve gases"-and
how the Nations doctors can treat
victims was in the hands of State
and local civil defense planners
today.
The 260-page booklet on medical
civil defense needs digs deeper
than any previous Government
publication into such special weap-
ons as the lethal gases. On the
other hand, it answers the de-
mands of doctors for a uniform
treatment for burns.
In releasing the publication,
DR.. Norvin C. Kiefer, director of
the ONCE of Health Resources of
the National Security Resources
Board emphasized that it was not
issued with the idea of alarming
the public. 1t was pointed out,
however. that the need is urgent
for putting the recommendations
Of the plan into effect in critical
target areas.
Message Not Reassuring.
The general message of the
publication is not reaSSuring. 1t
advises that, in addition to the
enormous number of casualties
that would result from an atomic
attack, an enemy could also use
chemical and biological weapons
effectively against this country.
Outlining the problems of an
atomic attack, the book assumes
that single bomb, of the Hiro-
shima type is exploded at 1000
feet over a city with population
density of $4,000 per square mile
washington, in 1910, had about
1900 per square mile)
If the bomb exploded in the
daytime, without warning. it
would cause 10000 casualties,
killed or injured.
OF these 10000 would be killed
outright or die in the first day.
An additional 10000 would die in
the following five or six weeks.
OF those who survive. it is esti-
mated that from $4,000 to 10000
would require extensive treatment
and disqualification.
Warnings Would Help.
The report says that adequate
warning and good training of civil
defense personnel could cut these
casualty totals in half. If the
attack came at night, with warn
ing, the total would probably be
reduced to about 10000 casualties.
To deal with such a disaster,
the plan recommends the creation
of many, highly mobile first aid
teams. For handling a single
atomic explosion 96 such teams
would be required. manned by
nearly 10000 attendants. most of
whom would be two-man
stretcher- bearer teams.
The treatment for burns, a
glaring lack in civil defense plan
ming up until now, is one of the
most important sections of the
book. 1t has been pointed out
that burns would probably ac-
count for a major percentage OF
atomic casualties. particularly if
there was no previous warning.
Standard Treatment Devised.
The problem was to find a
standard treatment for which
supplies could be stockpiled in
large quantity. 1t had to be
adaptable to all types of burns,
and capable of quick application
by relatively unframed first-aid
workers. 1t also had to be mex
pensive, effective and usable
under the most adverse condi-
tions.
The administration, after eX-
tensive consultation. has come up
with an answer that looks some
thing like a small mattress.
It is a dry dressing, about an
inch thick, composed of cotton
and cellulose and contained in a
gauze wrapping. 1t would come
in two sizes. one large enough to
cover the entire trunk, and a
smaller one for use on arms and
legs. 1t would be held in place
by an elastic wrapping.
On the subject of chemical war;
fare. the publication deals only
on one type of gas which might
be used against populated areas
the so-called nerve gases" de-
veloped by the Germans near the
end of World War II.
OdorleSs and colorless. these
gases are more poisonous than
any previously known war gas.
They can be absorbed by breath
ing, through the mucous men,
branes of the eye or the mouth or
through the skin. The symptoms
vary from mild giddiness to con-
vulsions and rapid death.
On the brighter side. the book
points out that nerve gases would
be limited in effectiveness to a
relatively small area. Also. There
is a quite effective treatment for
victims if it is applied quickly
The treatment consists of large
doses of a common drug called
atropine, injected into the blood
stream.
AS for the possibilities of bio
logical warfare against people,
animals or crops, the findings of
the agency give little cause for
complacency. While no absolute
weapon, "a determined and re-
sourceful enemy could employ
the agents of biological warfare
against us effectively" the report
says, and could do it either before
or after the outbreak of open war.
Agents capable of being used
or developed for biological war
fare may be imported surrepti-
tiously, or they may be manufac-
tured within the United States by
workers in clandestine labora-
tories" the report states. Spokes-
man for the agency say there is
no indication that such warfare
Is a1ready under Wav