Civil Self-Defense O T T O EISENSCHIML, Scientific Oi7 Compounding Co., Chicago, ill
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X F W E are to give our civilian population helpful instructions to protect itself in case of war, we should, first of all, stop overemphasizing the atomic bomb. All the films and TV shows, all the pamphlets, leaflets, magazines, and newspaper articles which have come to my attention, create the impression that attacks by atomic bombs are the only ones to fear and to g u a r d against. I n this way we are unwittingly playing the enemies' game; for with the entire country expecting atomic bombs, we are like a batter who is set for a fast, straight ball, and whom a clever pitcher will fool by throwing a slow curve. Our potential enemies are clever; should they surprise us with chemicals, incendiaries, or biological agents, they will catch us off balance. W e must broaden our educational program. Even on atomic attacks, however, t h e instructions issued now are good only in some respects, faulty in others; they also are far too general. Conditions in a small town, for example, are different from those in a large city; and a person in a onestory house should react differently from one in a tall building. Furthermore, many recommendations assume that there will be alerts, giving everyone plenty of time to get ready. Alerts certainly should be given to isolated plants and small communities as far in advance as possible, but in large centers any alert exceeding a few minutes would defeat its purpose. For one thing, thousands of people would jump into their automobiles to get out of town, causing an inextricable traffic jam, through which neither the fire department, the police, nor t h e civil defense workers could move. Moreover, if public shelters should b e available, other thousands would be crushed to death trying to crowd into 2898
them, and still other thousands, unable to reach them, would be caught in the street, where they should not b e . To t h e uninitiated it may b e reassuring to see pictures of men, w o m e n , and children walking calmly into shelters, two, three or four abreast; b u t what would they do w h e n in fear of their lives? T h e usual admonition to remain calm is a waste of words. You cannot prevent mass hysteria by exhortations to take it easy. But while those inside t h e shelters m a y b e more secure from flash, blast, and radiological injuries, they are paying for this advantage by being exposed to heavier-than-air poison gases, broken water mains and gas pipes, and the possibility of being buried alive. W h a t looks like the easiest solution of a problem is not always the best, nor the safest. However, the ultimate decision rests with each individual, who must follow his own judgment under the circumstances in which he finds himself. It has now been quite well established that w e cannot count on more than eightminute alerts, because of the speed of modern aircraft. But we h a d better not count on any alert at all. Men in leading positions seem worried about this eightminute maximum, b u t I wonder if they realize the consequences of a long-time alarm. I also wonder if they are considering that atomic bombs need not necessarily be delivered b y planes. They may be discharged by U-boats against our coastal cities, by guided missiles farther inland, or b e planted b y saboteurs anywhere. Any of these possibilities precludes alerts. Prolonged advance warnings would carry with them another handicap for civil defense. Suppose that an enemy plane is reported approaching from the north, but is still far off. Its destination would be unknown; hence the alarm would spread CHEMICAL
over several cities, creating much u n necessary confusion, if not fatalities. T h e end result m i g h t be of m o r e advantage t o the enemy t h a n to us. Would it n o t b e well, therefore, t o withdraw from circulation those current instructions w h i c h veil t h e ugly truth— that in case of an air raid w e can expect little or no t i m e at all for preparation? Just as directions for small towns should differ from those for large cities, so a line of demarcation should b e d r a w n b e t w e e n small homes a n d a p a r t m e n t buildings. If I found myself in a frame house, for instance, I w o u l d endeavor to reach t h e basement, b e c a u s e wooden structures m a y be carried a w a y , blown to pieces, or set on fire; but in a high a p a r t m e n t or office building I w o u l d hardly have time to reach t h e b a s e m e n t in t h e first place, a n d would not try if I could. If a n alarm were given I would go to a lower floor. If n o alarm were given, I would stay where I happened to b e at the time, rather t h a n go below t h e street level, w h e r e I might get buried u n d e r 20 or more stories of cement and steel. In view of these divergent factors, should we n o t b e more specific in our guidance, a n d issue general instructions only where t h e y are universally applicable? Of late, p e o p l e have b e e n indoctrinated with the idea t h a t t h e most powerful b o m b we may expect will b e two and one half times as strong as the one used at Hiroshima. T h e a r g u m e n t is that still stronger bombs are uneconomical because their destructiveness does not rise in proportion to their power. Therefore it is proposed to build shelters strong enough to withstand the hypothetical optimum. This is a h a z a r d o u s premise, and on t h e strength of it I should hesitate to send people into a n y kind of underground mass AND
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or released by bombs a x e STmrlaT t o those recommended against chemicals, a n d o o t t e satisfactory-provided, o r course, t h a i t h e attack d o e s n o t take t h e form of w a t e r pollution or o t h e r forms of insidious mass attacks. If this should occur, counteraetion m u s t te l e f t to t h e defense authorities. Needed: Wide Vision T a k i n g it a l l i n alL, the m a i n faaalli ©ft our over-all c i v i l defense p r o g r a m as tihai it lacks -vision- I have no d o u h t t h a t ©urnplans h a v e b e e n worked o u t h y experts, but successful p l a n n i n g should h e founded on m o r e than expert k n o w l e d g e , Ejoowledge a l o n e is w o r t h l e s s , unless it is suppleshelter, w h e t h e r newly constructed o r mented h y t h e anility t o project it into _a already available in form of subways, clear picture o f «\ 7 ents t o come. tunnels, o r basements—yet this is what is We cannot afford t o lose t h e ueadt w a r , being widely r e c o m m e n d e d . should o n e c o m e , and civil defense is ana Eventually it will u n d o u b t e d l y b e integral part o f it- Uirfortmaately, si seeaan^ possible t o build shelters s t r o n g e n o u g h to m e , i t is £>efng planned without snimto withstand a n y kind of A - b o m b , a n d cient vision, " b u t on t h e supposition thqjt these would b e feasible for individual erents w i l l r u n according t o o u r experts" plants or small communities. But h o w preconceived i d e a s . I n s t e a d of avoiding about cities of a million p e o p l e or over, past mistakes, w e are repeating tkern. where distances a r e great? L e a v i n g aside It is a s s u m e d , to cite only one i n s t a n t ^ the cost factor, t h e construction time r e that t h e injured in a n atomic attack -wM quired, a n d t h e distances t o t h e points of be t a k e n to ifirst-aid c a m p s , wlaere t b e y entry, w h a t fraction of t h e population will b e decontaminated f>efore t h e worst could these shelters possibly accommocases a r e conveyed to nospitals, T n e plan date? A n d will not t h e H - b o m b , when a n d is sound—hut w i l l it w o r k ? I d o n o t ifrhir-fc if perfected, upset all projects and m a k e so. Inj^ored ^people i n close proyrrnTty t o obsolete t h e shelters already built? hospitals will b e eaxrieo! into t h e m dire-dtlK^ regardless of instructions- Moreover, t h e The O t h e r Possibilities first-aid stations will b e in d k a r g e ©f small, In all t h e agitation about t h e a t o m i c overworiked c r e w s , eoinsistmg mostly ©f bomb, other forms of attacks have r e - v o l u n t e e r workers to w h o m decontajrninaceived entirely t o o scant consideration. tion is :a new problem. Tine dhanoes a r e This error, if n o t speedily corrected, m a y that t h e y will attend t o caastomaiy i n p n i e s lead to bitter regrets later o n . T h e fact and s k i p decontamination- Yet t h e ihosthat so-called poison gases w e r e n o t used pitalization o f e v e n a single p a t i e n t (conin W o r l d W a r I I is n o g u a r a n t e e t h a t t h e y t a m i n a t e d w i t h nerve or o t h e r persistent will not b e used in t h e future. If a n gases, w i t h disease-bearing germs, o r udlik atomic attack, o r even one b y conventional radioactive suubstances (dust ©T raimD saay bombs, should b e intermingled with or riave v e r y serious results. followed b y a chemical attack, t h e work of D u r i n g the l a s t war I suggested fHfcralt ira our defense t e a m s would b e m a d e i m case of a gas a l a r m all doors except erne of measurably m o r e difficult, a n d lack of every Hospital should b e closed a t ©nee, pertinent public education could cause a and t h a t the o n e entrance left o p e n sn©uld catastrophe. E v e n an attack by poison lead t o a decontamination cnarnoez. Flans gases alone is not impossible a n d , in o u r for t h e constracrion of s u c h a dhamfcer present state of u n p r e p a r e d n e s s , would b e had o e e n w o r k e d out hy t h e Cool: O o u n t y only too effective. (Chicago) G e n e r a l Hospital, Ibni w e r e Bombs of t h e W o r l d W a r H t y p e m a y never put i n t o effect, b e c a u s e of tine also b e on t h e enemy's list, b u t t h e i n lessening of e n e m y striking pGnsver. I n &e structions (except for some minor deviations) relating to atomic b o m b s will serve well for protection against old-style b o m b s . Our experience on h i g h explosives, h o w evpT-—or, rather, t h a t of t h e G e r m a n s a n d th • b. Hish—is based on fairly long a d vance warnings, w h i c h make t h e lessons of t h e last w a r of limited value. As t o incendiaries, they too p r e s e n t a major hazard, a n d countermeasures against t h e m should b e t a u g h t . T h e extinguishing of small patch fires m a y prevent an uncontrollable conflagration. Aside from b o m b s , poison gases, a n d incendiaries, t h e enemy c o u l d u s e b i o logical agents, either alone or i n combination w i t h other k i n d s of attack. Fortunately, t h e necessary precautions against germs o r other agents d r o p p e d from planes
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nesH w>air aflg^tm^srTTirr^ftfrnrB cfeantbers should b e stiM snKSse vrftr^, foot I n a v e seen n o niaecaSnxQiiii ssi itneinm aisywlkeire, n o r d o I k n o w fi7Tnra!l «feCTTymn^hr,Tftfcm^L I suggest, f o r e x :?iT77raTT^ir>.3 si ssnns-entertaiiiiiniEg; conversation HacSwregGB cme igjsssicmt person a n d o n e o r 5^33) (onfescs weM versed, eao-ried o n in a flnqfofr v^faH"n^ E^dlnidEnig a f e w Ikugbs, b u t \nntft> a. sssroGWES mndeirtorie, a n d covering e^tcay SsneseeaEife contingency. AM points IjwwTnngte mis. smmuiM fee illustrated fey a c ttnnal (SesnffiTJis^adiiQns, s o m e o n t b e comical siafe- ^i^'lnr^ one sees, o n e rerriernbers, a n d gsiad g^g> ane s p r e a d h>y \srord of m o u t h , is>EEiEiiig hi!.i?ih-4itrsfr amonig wi tlterni sfeould fee d e Brossssfl b y a p&ysfefaHi or a t e a m consistrng
2E99
Self-Help for Civilians Suggestions by Chicago Chemical W a r f a r e Consulting Committee on Civil Defense KEEP ONE COPY O N YOUR PERSON - - POST ANOTHER IN YOUR BATHROOM J u n e 1951
A I R RAID I N S T R U C T I O N S
. t o p r o t e c t you a g a i n s t all t y p e s of a t t a c k
Air A t t a c k s : Poison Gas, Biological ( G e r m s ) , Radiological ( R a y s ) Bombs: I n c e n d i a r y , W o r l d W a r I I T y p e , Atomic
If you hear a wave of planes a n d one or more explosions, but see no blinding flash, expect a World War II type bombing, possibly combined with incendiaries, poison gas, a n d / o r biological agents; or an A-bomb may have exploded underground or under water. I. If y o u a r e o u t in t h e open, h u r r y inside. D o n ' t look u p . Cover h e a d with coat or skirt. Avoid '"uspicious p u d d l e s . II. If you are inside, stay inside. D u c k u n d e r a desk or table. D o not get u p until debris has stopped flying. i l l . T h e n close h o u s e tightly. T a p e or tack w e t n e w s p a p e r strips over window and door cracks. Stuff other o p e n ings with w e t p a p e r or rags. L o w e r shades a n d d r a w curtains. Shut off all gas burners a n d oil furnace. C o v e r broken •windowfe with w e t tablecloths or b e d s h e e t s . Stay in best p r o t e c t e d room until radio o r s o u n d trucks advise you t o leave. D o n ' t use p h o n e . All lines are held for Civil Defense. If hurt, you will b e a t t e n d e d b y roving defense t e a m s . Extinguish small fires yourself; if incendiary, u s e sand o r earth, not water. If forced t o l e a v e building, w e a r large h a t , h e a v y coat, a n d shoes, a n d walk u n d e r open umbrella, even it is not raining. After e n t e r i n g a n y h o u s e for shelter, immediately take off all outer clothing and shoes. T h r o w t h e m out, w a s h hands, t h e n flush eyes, shampoo hair, rinsing so t h a t n o w a t e r strikes your eyes. M a k e those seeking shelter with you do t h e same. If in a u t o , park at once. Shut windows. T u r n on radio. Do not drive.
If in a u t o , street car, or b u s , stay inside vehicle until debris stops flying. T h e n hurry into nearest building; if n o n e is near, stay inside vehicle.
If in t w o - o r three-story stone or brick building, go t o first floor. If in a frame b u i l d i n g , go to b a s e ment.
IV. If you see a flash a n d t h e sky is so bright it blinds, an A - b o m b h a s struck in mid-air. Follow t h e same instructions, b u t If outside, drop flat on your stomach at once (if possible beside a wall or into a gutter).
VI. General Instructions D o n ' t worry a b o u t children a t school. T e a c h e r s will care for t h e m . Y o u n e e d no immediate medical care for b u r n i n g eyes, blisters, or irritated l u n g s , b u t in case of continued difficulties i n b r e a t h i n g or convulsions, arouse attention of roving defense t e a m s .
Cover eyes Remain flat from 1001 t o before getting
a n d face with your arms. for 70 seconds, counting 1070 ( n o t from 1 to 7 0 ) up.
T h e n run into nearest building. Stone or brick a r e better than w o o d e n structures. If in a u t o , stop at once, drop to floor a n d close w i n d o w s quickly. After 70 seconds p a r k at curb. T u r n o n radio. Do not use auto to drive. If no s u b stantial building is near, stay inside auto until instructed t o leave. If in street car or b u s , drop to floor for 70 seconds a n d stay inside until instructed to leave. If inside building, stay inside. D u c k u n d e r a desk or table, or d r o p flat for 70 seconds. T h e n proceed as u n d e r I I I . V. T h e r e m a y b e n o alert, b u t if o n e is given, t i m e for preparation will b e very short. If in high building, go to a low floor and stay in corridor.
Store n o w in locations m e n t i o n e d u n d e r V o r take t h e r e after alert: First-aid kit; learn t o use it. Buckets of sand or earth, a n d / o r a fire extinguisher. O n e flashlight, plus extra sets of batteries. O n e portable (battery-operated) radio. T h u m b tacks a n d Scotch t a p e . A f e w newspapers. T w o days' supply o f canned food ( w a s h cans before o p e n i n g ) . One-gallon bottled w a t e r for each person. After attack t a p w a t e r may be unsafe for drinking, b u t contents of hot water tank is safe. Know h o w t o shut off oil furnace a n d gas. VII. Air Raid Signals W a r b l i n g sirens 3 minutes—attack c o m i n g soon. Steady sirens, repeated—all clear.
° A P P O I N T E D in February 1951 by A. C. Ivy, deputy director of t h e Medical and Public Health Services, Chicago Civil Defense Corps, for t h e purpose of developing helpful ideas pertaining to civil defense problems. Otto Eisenschiml, chairman, has available mimeographed copies of the Air Raid Instructions and suggests that they b e printed in pocket-size pamphlet form. For copies, write Mr. Eisenschml, 1 6 3 7 S. Kilbourne Ave., Chicago 2 3 , 111. Available for distribution also are a five-minut e radio broadcast in case some city i n the United States has been gasattacked, a two-minute emergency broadcast in case the home city is t h e victim of a gas attack, and a five-minute educational broadcast on this subject a n d a 3 0 - m i n u t e TV script on all forms of civil self-defense. Well advanced is a lecture to hospital personnel on a n y kind of enemy attack. T h e Chicago Chemical Warfare Consulting Committee on Civil Defense consists of t h e following members: Benjamin Boshes, Northwestern University; William Borrows, University of Illinois; Julius M . Coon, University of Chicago; W a r d Evans, Loyola University; R. F . Humphreys, Illinois Institute of Technology; James D . Ingle, Barry Research Division, Swift a n d Co.; Clarence Johnson, University of Illinois; Derland Johnston, representing Chicago Section of ACS; Kenneth Morse, Council of Medical Civil Defense; James N . Pitts, professor of chemistry, Northwestern University; Byron Riegel, professor of chemistry, Northwestern University; Otto Eisenschiml, chairman. Consulting: John O. Hutchins, professor of physiology, University of Chicago.
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of a physician a n d a chemist. Fictitious cases should be b r o u g h t in and the treatm e n t carried out all t h e w a y , from d e c o n tamination to the application of first aid. Mock alarms, to p r a c t i c e t h e closing or all entrances except o n e , a r e essential. O t h e r g r o u p s should be given special instru^'ions pertaining to their particular work. Street car and bus conductors, for instance, should b e trained to m a k e all passengers, in case of an A - b o m b attack, h u g t h e floor and stay inside t h e vehicle until t h e debris h a s c e a s e d flying. T e l e p h o n e operators should b e instructed to shut off all calls not pertaining to the emergency. Refresher leaflets for each g r o u p should be p r e p a r e d a n d distributed; in addition they should be p o s t e d in a p p r o p r i a t e places, such as c a r b a r n s , t e l e p h o n e exchanges, a n d s o on. As to lectures t o t h e general public, I w o u l d concentrate on h i g h school students; my experience in t h e last w a r has t a u g h t me that w h e n demonstrations are m a d e interesting a n d exciting, with m a n y students participating, each will carry the message to his family a n d friends. I suggest avoiding any reference to t h e scientific principles involved. People t h r e a t e n e d b y atomic bombs care little a b o u t nuclear fission, a n d those injured b y a poison gas would be totally uninterested in its chemical formula. W h e t h e r or not the b r o a d masses should b e given lectures is debatable. T h e results in W o r l d W a r II w e r e not encouraging, p e r h a p s because of t h e scarcity of good speakers. T h e speaJkers we need must not only h o l d t h e interest of the a u d i e n c e but must also be able t o a n s w e r p e r t i n e n t questions, adjust their language to the level of their listeners, and h a v e the e n d u r a n c e of an a r m y m u l e . Such a combination of qualities is h a r d to find. Radio broadcasts s h o u l d be recorded for all possible contingencies. A fivem i n u t e broadcast for any Icind of e n e m y attack, or any combination of them, s h o u l d b e h e l d in readiness t o b e released, say, each h o u r o n the hour, in case any city in t h e United States has b e e n attacked, and a t w o - m i n u t e record s h o u l d be broadcast if t h e h o m e city itself h a s been a l e r t e d or is already t h e victim of a n attack. E d u c a t i o n a l records, t o b e read a t any time, should be o n h a n d t o cover t h e entire field. In regard to instructive literature, I prefer pocket-size leaflets t o t h e booklets n o w being distributed. T h e leaflet I h a v e in m i n d should give instructions against all types o f attacks, a n d t w o of them should b e available for e a c h man, w o m a n , a n d child, one t o b t carried on his person a n d t h e other p o s t e d in t h e bathroom. I a d v o c a t e t h a t t h e y b e n o t given away promiscuously, b u t b e o b t a i n a b l e only b y means o f stamped, selfa d d r e s s e d envelopes. W h a t p e o p l e pay for t h e y read and keep; a n d if p e o p l e are w a r n e d that they will hav^e to suffer t h e consequences, unless t h e y themselves take a n interest in their self-preservation, their a p a t h y will disappear. T h e s e leaflets, containing staccato instructions, should require n o more t h a n a V O L U M E
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