02:16Some of the radioactive particles spill out near the explosion site.
02:23Others may be carried for 10, 50, 100 miles or more.
02:29But how will you know if there is fallout?
02:33You can't hear, smell, taste, or see the radiation.
02:39But you yourself can detect the fallout particles that produce it.
02:45The easiest time to do this without special instruments is when the fallout is settling through the air.
02:52This starts any time from about one half hour to several hours after the explosion,
02:58depending on how far away you are.
03:01And it continues to fall for an hour or longer.
03:06Usually you can see the fallout.
03:09So if there has been an explosion of a nuclear weapon within a few hundred miles of you,
03:14you should suspect every unusual concentration of dust in the air of being fallout.
03:22After an explosion in daylight, watch any unusual accumulation of dust.
03:29At night, put a white or light-colored plate outside.
03:34Examine it every 15 minutes or so.
03:37If dust is accumulated on the plate, treat it as fallout.
03:43The particles in that fallout behave like miniature x-ray machines, sending out radiation in all directions.
03:52If there are many particles, and if you are exposed to them long enough, you will be hurt.
03:59Others will be watching for that fallout, of course.
04:06Experts will estimate the probable path and speed of approaching fallout, and try to keep you posted.
04:12But it may come before you hear any details by radio or otherwise.
04:19You must take precautions, whether you hear their reports or not.
04:26If radio stations are operating, you will hear reports, especially on the Conrad frequencies 640 or 1240 on your AM dial.
04:37As soon as it is safe for specially protected crews to get out into the open,
04:42these highly trained civil defense radiation detection teams will make a thorough check of radiation levels and characteristics.
04:51Those facts will be relayed to you by radio as fast as they come into civil defense headquarters in your area.
04:58Information from the radiation monitoring teams will be combined and analyzed by experts manning a central radiation control point.
05:10These experts, who know just how fast harmful radiation reduces in force,
05:16can predict when it will be safe for people to come out of shelters and resume normal tasks.
05:23We have warned that you may have to act before you get any detailed reports.
05:29Just what can you do if fallout comes your way?
05:35Find the best shelter you can.
05:38The more solid substance you can put between yourself and the fallout, the better.
05:44But an ordinary frame house with windows closed will give considerable protection.
05:49In a house, it's best to get on the floor, away from doors and windows.
05:55Or if you can, find a location with additional walls in the center of the building.
06:01A basement is even better if the house has one.
06:05Large buildings, such as apartment or office buildings, give good protection.
06:12The thick, heavy masonry of their walls and floors makes it hard for radiation to get through.
06:20Basements, inside rooms or corridors on the lower floors are safest.
06:26The basement of any house or building will become a good improvised shelter if you block the windows with sandbags
06:33and place other sandbags on the floor above the shelter area.
06:39If you don't have sandbags, thick, solid layers of books, magazines or newspapers, or even a series of file cabinets standing close to each other can cut the radiation danger.
06:53In some parts of the country, there are storm cellars or outside vegetable storage cellars.
06:59They may be used as shelters from fallout.
07:03If you plan to use such a cellar or your basement or any other shelter, stock it with food and supplies.
07:11To equip and supply your shelter area, you need some of the same things you might take on a vacation camping trip.
07:18First, sleeping equipment to fit your shelter area, folding cots or sleeping bags and blankets.
07:30Then, food and water.
07:33There should be at least a two-week supply.
07:36You'll want plenty of fruit juices and lots of your family's favorite canned foods.
07:42The drinking water supply should be rotated often to be sure it's fresh.
07:47And don't forget such basic needs as sugar, salt, pepper, and other seasoning that your family ordinarily uses.
07:56Now, some equipment.
08:00A radio is very important.
08:03It should be a battery portable with spare batteries.
08:07A transistorized radio is best, as the batteries last longer.
08:12Next, you need light in the form of flashlights and a battery-operated lantern.
08:18Then, a good first aid kit.
08:21Now, plates, cups, silverware.
08:25A can opener and a bottle opener are important.
08:29Add to these things enough closed containers to take care of garbage and human waste.
08:38Especially if there will be children in the shelter.
08:41Include some books and magazines, paper and pencils.
08:46Maybe one or two small, simple games.
08:50The best protection of all is the special shelter, built according to specifications of your local civil defense organization.
08:59This has an air filter to allow ventilation, but keep dust out.
09:05And it has at least three feet of earth over it.
09:08It would be a good idea to go right now to your local civil defense office to secure plans for the type of shelter you want.
09:17And then, to get busy on construction.
09:20Plans are simple, using standard materials.
09:24So maybe you can do the job yourself.
09:27But all this special shelter talk won't help very much if you are caught way out on the open road.
09:34If that happens, keep driving until you see a building, which may be a house or barn, church or school.
09:41Drive as close to the building as you can.
09:44Then, get yourself and your family out of the car and take cover in the building.
09:50If you live on a farm and have sufficient warning, get your animals under cover and give them enough food and water to last several days.
10:02And if you can, cover any piles of hay or harvested crops that may be outside.
10:11If the explosion has been some miles away, you will have time to fill tubs and other containers with water
10:18before fallout arrives.
10:21All locations where outside dust does not penetrate will be safe storage points for water.
10:28Whatever kind of shelter you find, settle down and make the best of it.
10:34If there are others with you, help them by being as calm as you can.
10:39And don't be discouraged.
10:41You can go out for very brief periods if you are well covered and keep the dust off your skin.
10:50Wear heavy boots or shoes and pants tucked in or tied around the bottom to keep dust out.
10:58If any dust gets on you, brush it off promptly.
11:03And when you have a chance, wash it off.
11:06That dust can burn your skin.
11:10But what happens if you do get exposed to a great deal of fallout?
11:15Food or water has been contaminated by the dust.
11:18Internal damage may occur.
11:21When dust has been left on skin, there will be skin burns.
11:26When you have been near dust too long, there may be radiation sickness.
11:32Exposure can even cause death.
11:36If you have had considerable exposure, you will vomit and grow weak.
11:41But after a few hours, this sensation will pass.
11:45And by the next day, you may have had the last of it.
11:48Even if you have been exposed to excessive fallout, you may eat and drink just as you normally would.
11:55But don't force yourself.
11:57Whether you have had these symptoms or not, if civil defense radio announcements have said that radiation has been high in your section,
12:08keep an eye on your condition for the next few days.
12:11Watch especially for these developments in the two weeks following exposure.
12:16Return of nausea.
12:21Sore throat.
12:23Bruise spots developing without any known reason.
12:27Loss of hair.
12:30These conditions or nosebleed or diarrhea should be reported to a doctor
12:39or to the nearest first aid station set up under civil defense plans.
12:44Unless civil defense teams have warned that your area is still dangerously radioactive,
12:50you can get out and work to help yourself and help others.
12:55Although fallout can be deadly, your chances of avoiding damage from it are much better if you follow the directions we have given you.
13:05During an alert, keep your portable radio tuned to the Conrad radio frequencies, 640 and 1240 on the AM dial for the latest reports and advice.
13:20Right now, today, before there is an alert, take time to learn the civil defense five steps to safety.
13:29Learn warning signals and what they mean.
13:32Learn your community plan for emergency action.
13:36Learn protection from radioactive fallout.
13:40Learn first aid and home emergency preparedness steps.
13:45And learn how to use Conrad, 640 or 1240 on the AM dial for official directions.
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