Show s r a j a t W I Mk The second atomic bomb ever exploded made a charred wilderness of the Japanese city of Hiroshima Of the city's c cA population were killed A A A A y U UA ATOMIC TOMIC A ATTACK A TT ACK Bomb A Damage Would Be Big i iCan But Cities Can Survive Blast I If It an atomic bomb was exploded 2000 feet above the sidewalk of ot New York city today from to people would die depending upon that number within a mile mUe and a halt half radius of ot the point of ot the explosion Most Americans can not conceive the power and destruction of such an explosion and many have shrugged hopelessly believing that there is no defense against sure death if it J an atomic bomb was dropped in their vicinity I There are are however some things the public can do to help itself i It Many of ot these things have been outlined In a book entitled The Effects of Atomic Weapons just published by the atomic energy commission at Washington and the United States department of de de- 1 j I The book suggests that the public pub pub- lie lic can con help itself on a community scale by an alarm system by des des' designating des des- designating desIgnating large shelters by training to meet emergencies by preparing to evacuate target areas and by bylong bylong bylong long range but hastened develop develop- development development development ment of highways and removal of danger points such as slums Many cities such as New York and San Francisco have started such programs Three Types of Bombing As individuals the public can pro pro- protect protect protest test itself Itsel by learning how to take care of injuries by deciding in ad ad- advance advance vance how to act under attack as asa asa asa a family or neighborhood group by preparing simple home shelters Death and destruction from an anatomic anatomic anatomic atomic attack would be immense but a city can survive as many did from terrific conventional bombing The terrible destruction and I death rate from an atomic bomb bombIs Is outlined In the book which tells what one bomb did to I Hiroshima where of ot the I population were killed and what happened at Naga Naga- Nagasaki saki said where of the city's people died from one ono t bomb A-bomb explosion The book reports there are three possible types of bombing A-bombing High air burst as at Hiroshima and Naga Naga- Nagasaki Nagasaki Nagasaki I saki where the bombs were ex ex- exploded exploded ex- ex exploded I about 2000 feet above the cities low ground and underwater or underground The be high air a r burst Is the most I probable in an attack on the United States It kills the most people and does d es the most widespread wide damage Its effectiveness is somewhat de- de determined topes by weather and a a d topo- topo topographical topographical graphical conditions But in the average American city lit would Kill 85 per cent of the people with- with Jin a half haIt mile mUe radius of ot ground zero the point directly below the burst 35 per cent at one mile and 2 per cent at a mile and a half halt Cause various radiation and con con- conventional cont violent injuries and burns up to several miles mUes Explosion Ex Described Obliterate virtually all property above ground in the first zone Do damage ranging from intense int nse to light from the first zone to some eight miles from ground zero Cause Immense fires Dr J. J J O. O of the Uni Uni- University University of Wisconsin head of ot the board of editors for the book de de- describes describes describes scribes an atomic explosion A uA fraction of ot a second after the bomb explodes a ball of fire shoots out to a radius of ot yards It I gives off oft light of ot the same 1 characteristics as the sun On a clear day the light fight from the ball of fire will pro pro- produce produce produce duce skin burns up to a distance of ot two miles Under some condi condl- lions the whole area arel beneath the explosion may be converted Into a huge hUJe fire storm or bon hon fire tire 1 1 u L o oV V y rr The above picture shows a column of water wlter about 2000 feet across at its base and feet high boiling up op out of Bi BI- Bikini kini lagoon In the U. U S. S bomb A-bomb test It takes the blast wave one sec sec- second second ond and to reach one half mile mlle three seconds to reach one mile and seven seconds to reach two miles mUes In these seconds there arc are many things a person can do to protect himself if J he has the presence of ot mind The book suggests if J you are out out- outside outsIde outside side and that awesome glare occurs oc oc- occurs occurs curs Dont Don't look at the glare drop to the ground into a ditch or a slit sIlt trench if at all possible or behind anything at all Curl up to shade your face neck hands arms anns and legs with the clothed part of your body Stay that way at least 10 sec sec- It wont won't keep you from radia radIa- radiation radiation tion but it will help against flash lash burns If It you are in the street or on a road drop prone or duck behind a tree or into a doorway if J one is isa Isa isa a step or two away Bend over with back to light Dont Don't try tr to get to any shelter not right at hand be be- because because because cause most of an nn bombs bomb's heat and radiation come in the first three seconds Wait 10 seconds then press tightly against a building or wall to avoid falling debris In the public mind radiation Is the most frightful aspect of an 10 A- A bomb attack However force forc and fire far exceed it as destroyers In fact exposure does not mean that you are going to die or even that there will be some permanent pe pe- peculiar peculiar culiar after effects Book Is on Sale The book says remove your cloth cloth- clothing clothing clothing ing and scrub yourself hard with soap and water Special methods are are- effective under special condi condI- conditions condItions but soap and water are al al- most niost always around and they are pretty good universal tors Pay particular attention to skin folds areas around body open open- openings openings ings lags fingernails and toenails and hair hair and and dont don't cause skin breaks The government warns any kind of a shelter in the home might save you YOU YOU-I. a reinforced wall a corner In the basement strengthened against collapse of the ceiling a storm cellar or cave But be sure to provide an emergency exit If possible Space prohibits full discussion of ot the book but it is on sale by the Superintendent of Documents Gov Government Gov Government eminent Printing Office Washing Washing- Washington ton 25 25 D. D D C C. C for l. |