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Show Keeping Control Of Emotions During Emergency Thii if another In a lerta of articles concerning nuclear and natural disasters and how toope with such an emergency. Information Infor-mation comes from a non-copyrighted book written by Cresson H. Kearney, worM-renown researcher, author and lecturer, and published pub-lished by the American Security Council Education Foundation. By GARY R. BLODGETT In the previous article, it was discussed how we must take care of ourselves, while living in a shelter, during a nuclear attack. The article concerned our physical well-being. TODAY, WE reveal a few tips for keeping emotionally emo-tionally balanced during this shelter stay which in many cases will be more difficult than caring for our physical needs. Living together in close quarters under extremly unpleasant conditions is not new to society. Throughout history, people have endured being crowded together while living and sleeping on hard surfaces. CIVIL DEFENSE preparedness tests have shown that modern Americans can spend more than two weeks crowded together in tight underground shelters shel-ters and sleeping on concrete floors using only eight square feet of floor space for each person. But the question remains is that necessary? SINCE OUR most severe problem can result from emotional or psychological stress, it is important that fallout shelters be equipped with adequate furnishingsbunk fur-nishingsbunk beds, cots or hammocks, bench or folding chairs, or even a' suspended "bedsheet chair." Also, necessary items for the shelter must include proper means of ventilation, more than one source of light (or extra batteries), a battery-operated radio.' sufficient water, food and medical supplies, and sanitation sani-tation facilities. WITHOUT ALL of these 'comforts." living close in an underground or basement shelter would be an extremely traumatic experience. The mental, or emotional stress, would be too much for many persons. Even without light, the extended darkness could take its toll, especially among children. The same is true without some sort of comfort for sleeping, sitting, sit-ting, and other physical needs that everyone is so accustomed to. MORALE, HEALTH and cleanliness will be improved im-proved if there are the comforts of a few necessary items already stocked in a shelter. Persons occupying occupy-ing a shelter with relatively comfortable furnishings are more likely to remain in the shelter longer, and possibly avoid dangerous exposure to fallout radiation. radia-tion. Folding chairs take up very little space and can be utilized in even a relatively small shelter space. If - bunks or cots are not available, pieces of plywood can serve as a foundation for a bed. reliev ing some of the hardness of the floor or the dampness that may exist in an underground shelter. ALSO, WITH several persons in the shelter, it may be necessary to take shifts for sleeping, or even sitting. Hammocks and bedsheet chairs suspended from the ceiling take up very little shelter space and can improve conditions tremendously. |