Booklet on what to do in case of nuclear war

darkdubh · 11-09-2014 10:03pm #1

Years ago when I was doing a bit of tidying for my Grandmother I came across this old leaflet which gave advice on what to do in case of nuclear attack.It was illustrated with pictures showing what you should do when you hear the warning signal etc.Also about the effects of radiation and advising to cover your mouth and nose and it had a strong agricultural leaning all about disposing of dead animals and there was something relating to hay.There was a bandage included as well for first aid attached to the inside.I'm guessing that it was distributed to households at the time of the Cuban Missle Crisis when the threat of nuclear war seemed very real.Did anyone else come across them or have a picture?When my Nan (RIP) died 13 years ago a lot of stuff was thrown out.

Capt'n Midnight · 11-09-2014 10:12pm

The UK issued one , I don't think we did

This one - Protect and Survive ?
http://scyfilove.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Nuclear-War-Survival-Guide-British-Government.pdf

older 1938 one
https://archive.org/details/TheProtectionOfYourHomeAgainstAirRaids

darkdubh · 12-09-2014 12:49am

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

The UK issued one , I don't think we did

This one - Protect and Survive ?
http://scyfilove.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Nuclear-War-Survival-Guide-British-Government.pdf

older 1938 one
https://archive.org/details/TheProtectionOfYourHomeAgainstAirRaids

It followed a vaguely similar formula to the first one.I do remember now there was a really rubbish drawing of a mushroom cloud on the cover.I seem to remember as well something about Radio Eireann and a picture of an old style radio,advising people to keep their radios switched on for updates.Which when you think of it diden't make a lot of sense as if they did nuke us surely the main target would be Dublin so Montrose would be dust.

Edit:I see that UK one was issued in 1980.The one in my Nans house looked a good bit older than that.Late 50s early 60s at least.

Sam Kade · 12-09-2014 1:02am

darkdubh wrote: »

Years ago when I was doing a bit of tidying for my Grandmother I came across this old leaflet which gave advice on what to do in case of nuclear attack.It was illustrated with pictures showing what you should do when you hear the warning signal etc.Also about the effects of radiation and advising to cover your mouth and nose and it had a strong agricultural leaning all about disposing of dead animals and there was something relating to hay.There was a bandage included as well for first aid attached to the inside.I'm guessing that it was distributed to households at the time of the Cuban Missle Crisis when the threat of nuclear war seemed very real.Did anyone else come across them or have a picture?When my Nan (RIP) died 13 years ago a lot of stuff was thrown out.

I know exactly the book you are talking about it was a small colour animated book. Here it is

My neighbour who was also a relative had one in his house.

Capt'n Midnight · 12-09-2014 9:22am

darkdubh wrote: »

I seem to remember as well something about Radio Eireann and a picture of an old style radio,advising people to keep their radios switched on for updates.Which when you think of it diden't make a lot of sense as if they did nuke us surely the main target would be Dublin so Montrose would be dust.

RTE's big Medium Wave transmitter was in Athlone , and the old valve radios weren't as susceptible to EMP as more modern kit

http://homepage.eircom.net/~totalbroadcast/athlone2.html

http://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/681-history-of-rte/708-rte-2000s/289803-last-mw-transmitter-closes/

RTÉ Radio closes down its last Medium Wave transmitter at Tullamore, County Offaly after providing the radio signal for programmes for the last eighty two years.

whisky_galore · 12-09-2014 10:00am

Info in that booklet is probably about as useful as the Government issued Iodine Tablets.

endacl · 12-09-2014 10:04am

whisky_galore wrote: »

Info in that booklet is probably about as useful as the Government issued Iodine Tablets.

Those iodine tablets would probably count as 'All Things Retro' too at this stage!

darkdubh · 12-09-2014 11:13am

Sam Kade wrote: »

I know exactly the book you are talking about it was a small colour animated book. Here it is My neighbour who was also a relative had one in his house.

Thats it allright,nice one!

elaney · 12-09-2014 11:30am

They were on about this booklet on Scannal on Monday. It was the interview with Joe Jacob and Marian Finnucane that took place after 9/11 on how Ireland was prepared for a nuclear attack. Joe Jacob hadn't a clue how to protect Ireland in the event of a nuclear attack. Its one of the funniest radio interviews i've ever heard.

Greenmachine · 12-09-2014 11:34am

Sam Kade wrote: »

I know exactly the book you are talking about it was a small colour animated book. Here it is My neighbour who was also a relative had one in his house.

We have one of those in my parents house too.

Del.Monte · 12-09-2014 12:27pm

One of the classic pieces of advice contained in the booklet was - 'if you're caught out in the open by a nuclear explosion, turn your back to the blast' ...Lol

Greenmachine · 12-09-2014 9:32pm

Del.Monte wrote: »

One of the classic pieces of advice contained in the booklet was - 'if you're caught out in the open by a nuclear explosion, turn your back to the blast' ...Lol

better dead, than dead and blind....

...no need for corrections

jill_valentine · 12-09-2014 9:37pm

"If you are at work, you may be advised to go home."

Jaysus, I'd hope so. The rest of the filing can wait until after nuclear armageddon.

This is a gem.

Rubberchikken · 12-09-2014 9:41pm

Still have the iodine tabs they gave out over a decade ago.
Guess they're out of date by now.

Greenmachine · 12-09-2014 9:45pm

Rubberchikken wrote: »

Still have the iodine tabs they gave out over a decade ago.
Guess they're out of date by now.

One way to find out.

Capt'n Midnight · 12-09-2014 9:55pm

Greenmachine wrote: »

One way to find out.

EXP :MAR/05

Greenmachine · 12-09-2014 10:12pm

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

EXP :MAR/05

good another 91 years or bad 9 years. You decide.

Sam Kade · 13-09-2014 1:05am

Del.Monte wrote: »

One of the classic pieces of advice contained in the booklet was - 'if you're caught out in the open by a nuclear explosion, turn your back to the blast' ...Lol

Turn your arse to it

nlgbbbblth · 14-09-2014 7:08pm

Annihilation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHFPuH5iEww

telecinesk · 18-09-2014 12:53pm

The uk leaflet from 1980 cracks me up esp this:
"After the attack"---
This is what you should do.
Do not smoke.

heh, as if etc

C.K Dexter Haven · 20-09-2014 8:33am

I found it in the back of a press when I was a kid; scared the sh1te out of me:D

C.K Dexter Haven · 20-09-2014 8:37am

elaney wrote: »

They were on about this booklet on Scannal on Monday. It was the interview with Joe Jacob and Marian Finnucane that took place after 9/11 on how Ireland was prepared for a nuclear attack. Joe Jacob hadn't a clue how to protect Ireland in the event of a nuclear attack. Its one of the funniest radio interviews i've ever heard.

I think that interview is a modern classic- it was like something from a quaint bygone era but it was the 21st century:eek:

jill_valentine · 20-09-2014 8:53am

telecinesk wrote: »

The uk leaflet from 1980 cracks me up esp this:
"After the attack"---
This is what you should do.
Do not smoke.

heh, as if etc

I think "smoulder" might be the word they're looking for.

rock22 · 15-10-2014 10:04am

At the same time, schools carried out drills in case of a nuclear explosion. We had to hide under the school desks!

I am not too sure, but the booklet might have been issued during the Cuban missile crisis. However, I remember a general feeling in late 50's and early sixties that war could break out anytime. Russians were definitely seen as a threat while in Ireland we were in thrall to USA.

It is worth remembering that our parents lived through WW2 and so idea of Armageddon was seen as very real possibility.

Booklet on what to do in case of nuclear war

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