Evening star., 1950-10-29
Secrets Of Survival
In A-Bomb Attack
Told in u. 5. Booklet

The Government yesterday gave
out its first set of simple instruc-
tions on how to live through an
atomic attack.
The long promised guide starts
out on this reassuring note:
"You can survive"
The secrets of survival, the
32-page manual emphasizes. are
knowing the bombs true dangers
and what steps can be taken to
escape them.
Odds on Living Given.
The manual comedies that peo-
pie unlucky enough to be right
under the bomb have practically
no chance of living through it..
Otherwise, it gives these odds on
survival should a modern A-bomb
explode without warning in the
air:
Anywhere within one-half mile
of the center of the explosion, the
chances of escaping are about
one out of 10.
From one-half to one mile away,
there's a $3.50 chance of survival
From one to one and a half
miles out, the odds on being killed
are only Is in 100
At points from one and one
half to two miles away. the chance
of being killed is down to two or
three out of 100.
Beyond two miles. the explosion
will cause practically no deaths
at all.
Prepared by NSRB.
The manual, prepared by the
National Security Resources
Boards Civil Defense Office and
entitled Survival Under Atomic
Attack" is being distributed to
State and local civil defense Off
cials, members of Congress and
various public groups.
In letter to governors, Acting
Civil Defense Director James j.
Wadsworth declared:
THE combined efforts of the
Federal, State and local govern
ments and many private groups
will be needed to get this booklet
and the information in it into
every home in the Nation"
Material Is Not New.
Most of the material in the
manual has been published earlier
by the Government but in more
technical form. Like the earlier
publications. this guide empha-
sizes seeking shelter, dropping
fiat, taking care about food and
water. discouraging rumors and
scrubbing off radioactive ma
terials.
The manual specifically directs
householders to shut off oil burn
ers but leaves it to local utility
companies to issue detailed in
structions about gas and pilot
lights.
1t cautions aaginst letting trash
pile up to catch sparks or striking
a match after a raid because of
the danger of gas or oil fumes.
1t warns that any rain or mist
that comes right after an atomic
explosion should be considered
dangerous, even though it may not
always be radioactive.
Also emphasized is the idea that
an air burst leaves no important
lingering radioactivity, so after
few minutes it will be safe to get
out and help fight fires or come to
the assistance of those in trouble.
Gives First Aid Hints.
For bandaging open cuts where
no first aid equipment is handy,
civilians are advised to use parts
of their own or the victims
underclothing because that is less
likely to be contaminated by
radioactivity.
AS for drinking water. the
manual suggests drawing a little
water right after the bomb
burst and putting it in clean con-
tainers with covers. After that,
the manual goes on. even if the
water continues running it should
not be used for drinking until
the city system Is officially pro-
nounced safe.
Motorists are advised not to
park the family auto on the
street.