GET DOWN!
Posted by Ross Rosenberg
Some pages from a 1950s pamphlet entitled “Protection from the ATOMIC BOMB” which outlines the proper procedures when a nuclear cataclysm occurs. This is easily my favorite page. Indeed I was previously unaware that, should I witness a flash of light brighter than the Sun, I should immediately do a face-plant and stay down for one minute because really, once your retinas have been seared by an atomic explosion, there’s not much else to do. After that one minute though, you should be able to get up and go about your business, safe in the knowledge that you’re too smart for those Communists.
Atomic Bomb pamphlet [Vintage Ads]
Categories: Atomic Bomb, Cold War, 1950s, War, Vintage, America
Posted at 2:51 pm on May 6, 2008
12 Comments -
My dad told me about how when he was in school they had to crouch under their desks for Atomic Bomb safety drills.
Comment by Kingfisher — May 6, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
STAY THERE FOR AT LEAST A MINUTE
Classic.
At least we’ve graduated to “If you smell almonds, JAM these in to the meat of your thigh!”
Comment by Narkalant — May 6, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
Seriously. Remember: duct tape and garbage bags people!
Comment by Ross Rosenberg — May 6, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
[…] These pages from a 1950s propaganda pamphlet really need to be mashed-up with some fine dance moves. Get to it, internet. […]
Pingback by GET DOWN! | Phil Nelson — May 6, 2008 @ 5:43 pm
These are truly spectacular.
Comment by pr0pr1370r — May 6, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
What’s scary is that the people publishing these knew this was a crock of poo and they said it to the public anyway. Fast forward a few years and how’s that duck ‘n cover stuff look?
Comment by scott — May 6, 2008 @ 9:59 pm
Heh. I have to laugh. I live within a 5 mile zone for nuclear accidents. Used to live within the 2 mile zone (aka Kiss Your Ass Goodbye zone)… Here, in the 5 mile area, we MAY get out, but we’ll be irradiated…
Now, they tell us to shut all the doors, seal off the windows (such as with terrorist attacks or bio attacks) and … wait. Just… wait. They’ll come by and tell us what to do (bunny suits and Geiger counters anyone?)
Comment by Karen — May 6, 2008 @ 11:51 pm
Part of the defense strategy named MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) was to convince everyone on both sides that any nuclear exposure meant certain death.
This was very useful and kept the wold at peace for quite a while. Clearly, if the superpowers engaged in all out thermonuclear combat, everyone would perish.
But the threat today is more likely to be an isolated, small weapon attack. If you are close to “ground zero” you will be vaporized and not see a “flash brighter than the sun” (my Dad witnessed an atomic explosion and also described it that way). If you DO SEE one, then the advice in the article is probably valid.
Watch some of the early bomb testing films. There is an initial photon blast which knocks off paint and tree bark. Then a secondary concussion blast that wipes out everything that’s standing. It would suck to be far enough away to survive the initial radiation, only to be shredded by flying glass.
Regarding radiation exposure, it certainly not as deterministic as you may believe. Some people get unexpected cancer from small “safe doses” while other people survive exposures 1,000 times more that “lethal.”
Wikipedia has a decent article on the Chernobyl accident which gives a better idea of variability.
Comment by Darren — May 7, 2008 @ 12:31 am
With a whimper,
not a flash,
our end will arrive.
Comment by Optical — May 7, 2008 @ 12:43 am
1. SIDE ONE: ATOM AND EVIL by the Golden Gate Quartet
2. Audio Clip: Maj. Thomas Ferebee, “Enola Gay” bombardier, 08/15/45
3. WHEN THE ATOMB FELL by Karl and Harty
4. Audio Clips: President Harry S Truman, 08/09/45; Capt. Kermit Beehan, “Great Artiste” bombardier, 08/15/45
5. WIN THE WAR BLUES by Sonny Boy Williamson
6. Audio Clip: David E. Lilienthal, the first Chairman of the A.E.C.
7. ATOMIC POWER by the Buchanan Brothers
8. Audio Clip: Winston Churchill, 03/31/49
9. JESUS HITS LIKE AN ATOM BOMB by Lowell Blanchard and the Valley Trio
10. Audio Clip: Rep. James E. Van Zandt (Republican), Penn., 05/08/53
11. WHEN THEY DROP THE ATOMIC BOMB by Jackie Doll and His Pickled Peppers
12. ATOMIC SERMON by Billy Hughes and his Rhythm Buckeroos
13. OLD MAN ATOM by Sons of Pioneers
1. SIDE TWO: URANIUM by The Commodores
2. 50 MEGATONS by Sonny Russell
3. ATOM BOMB BABY by The Five Stars
4. SATELLITE BABY by Skip Stanley
5. SPUTNIKS AND MUTNIKS by Ray Anderson and the Homefolks
6. ATOMIC COCKTAIL by Slim Gaillard Quartette
7. ATOMIC LOVE by Little Caesar with the Red Callendar Sextette
8. ATOMIC TELEPHONE by Spirits of Memphis Quartet
9. RED’S DREAM by Louisiana Red
Soundtrack Album to the 1982 movie, Atomic Cafe,
quotes “Army information film: When not close enough to be killed, the atomic bomb is one of the most beautiful sights in the world.
Civil defense film: Be sure to include tranquilizers to ease the strain and monotony of life in a fallout shelter. A bottle of 100 should be sufficient for a family of four. Tranquilizers are not a narcotic, and are not habit-forming. “
Comment by soubriquet — May 7, 2008 @ 8:12 am
Get Down
Make Love
Comment by Melissa — May 9, 2008 @ 12:36 am
Mogo grew up in the Fifties, and remembers this training well. Darren is quite right. The training wasn’t stupid. If you can get through the initial burst without major injury, you have a chance of surviving the fires and fallout that follow. Until around 1970, the USSR probably couldn’t have hit us with more than about 20 warheads. That’s not enough to end civilization, although it might have slowed down the evolution of disco music.
Comment by Mogothe Mugger — May 15, 2008 @ 12:56 am