™ + %~ tt a protected area on one of the lower floors of a well-constructed, fireproof, reinforced-concrete or steel-frame building. To avoid the hazard of general conflagration, the building should not be among others that are not fireproof. Facilities required for rescue and damage control operations, in addition to the measures found neces- sary on the basis of World War II problem of underground detonation atomic bomb. It might be advisable of to an con- struct shelters so that they would provide protection in case of surface or subsurface bursts, in which the spread of radiation through the air might be a hazard. special consideration Hence, should be given to the problem of insuring suitable ventilation for shelters. The most effective method for providing adequate ventilation is to use 4 pressurized installation in which the air is forced through special air filters that would remove radioactively contaminated particles. The practicability of experience with conventional exPlosives, must be given special treatment in view of some of the novel effects of atomic weapons. The buried shelters would, of course, be uséless in the event of a near-by such extreme measures, however, is open to question. Basements of homes, especially if they were extended beyond the main structure of the house, would radiological hazard control requires more elaborate facilities, and this hazard, as well as the magnitude of the mechanical damage effects, re- offer reasonable protection against quires that careful consideration biast damage, provided they were not too near the center of the ex- be given to the communications networks, probable need for duplicate facilities, special storage requirements, emergency medical services, evacuation procedures and immediate debris clearance. Shelters inside buildings should be in fireproof, reinforced-concrete or steel-frame structures that are ptosion. However, care must be taken to chosen should be on the lower floors and in halls, or in the interior provide escapes to be used in case the house catches fire or collapses. A shallow rampart of soil or of sand bags outside the house would probably be advantageous. Semiburied shelters for individual families, of the type used in Burope during the last war for protection against conventional bombs, would these seem to offer the most rea- tion against atomic explosions. resistant to collapse. portions of the The areas buildings, sonable possibilities Secondary hazards, from falling plaster from fire, should, avoided. since also provide worth-while for protection. such as those or fixtures, or of course, be protec- In cities like New York, the subways would make good shelters, though they probably would col- lapse in case of a near-by underground explosion, The discussion of shelters is, of course, based on the assumption Outside Shelters Shelters outside the larger structures should, in general, be designed to resist the effects of blast and radiation from an atomic burst that there has been sufficient warning to permit people to take shelter. In the event of a surprise atomic explosion, immediate action would mean the difference between life and death. at a reasonable distance, say onehalf mile. They should be well clear of buildings to avoid hazards The first indication of an unex- from debris and fire. A buried. or semi-buried, shelter will usually be the best choice for protection from an air burst, be- stantaneously to the ground, curling up so as to shade bare arms clothed body. this light. but rather to do everything possible to cover all exposed parts of the body. 1. Complete disorganization stage: In the event of heavy and widespread physical damage, it may be presumed that roads would be blocked for some distance from Although this will the it might help in reducing flash- Emergency be held for at least ten seconds. immediate danger is then over, and it is permissible to stand up and look around to see what of protection, such as a doorway, a corner or a tree is within a step or two, then shelter may be taken there with the back to the light, and in a crouched position to pro- vide maximum protection, as described above. No attempt should least, a standing position may be resumed, but it is strongly advisable to press the body tightly against the side of a building to avoid breaking glass, or falling missiles, as far as possible. A person who is inside a building or a home when a sudden atomic attack occurs should drop to the floor, with his back to the window, or crawl behind or beneath a table, desk, counter, etc. This would also provide a shield against splintered glass from the blast wave. Windows to be Avoided The blast wave might reach the building some time after the dan- ger from radiation had passed, and so Windows should be avoided for about a minute, because the shock the explosion. The safest places inside a building are the interior keep as close to these as possible. In considering the practical problems of a radiological hazard it may be supposed that there all transportation and in effect. If in the street, and some sort several steps off. The best plan then is to crouch on the ground, as if completely in the open. After ten seconds, at that 2. Emergency control stage: This Phase would begin as soon as action appears advisable. be made to reach q shelter if it is and communication, except perhaps for self-contained radio equipment, would not be immediately beyond the lethal range for gamma rays. The curled-up position should The explosion, normal communication systems would be out of commission. burns, This is important because disabling burns can be suffered well partitions, and it is desirable to tendency to look at the source of pend on circumstances. These are as follows: not protect against gamma rays, lumination It would then be imperative to avoid the instinctive burst would be would be three stages, the duration and severity of which would de- and hands, neck and face with the wave continues for some time after atomic sudden increase of the general il- 44 ent, the best plan is to drop in- a pected cause the earth cover will act as protection against radiation. In addition, blast effects will be less than on a surface shelter. Such Personal Protection If a person is in the open when the sudden illumination is appar- 3 tion of concrete walls two feet thick would provide this degree of blast protection. Facilities for the direction of disaster-relief activities, and provision of first aid in a city, require margin roads had been cleared, and transportation and communication had been re-established, at least on an emergency scaie, so that information could be transmitted to a control room. In the case of moderate physical disaster, the emergency control phase would start immediately, and might iast a week or more, . Recovery stage: The final phase would be reached when most persons were out of immediate danger of injury, and there was time to start more thorough decontamination operations where necessary. In the emergency control phase, an important factor in the opera- tion of radiological defense would be rapid gathering of data on con- tamination The radiations that may be encountered are famma rays and beta particles (electrons} from fission products, neutroninduced activity or other radioactive material, and aipha particles (nuclei of helium) trom plutonium or uranium. Of these, the gamma radiation can be measured most readily. This is perhaps the greatest immediate hazard because of its considerable penetrating power. Beta particles as such are not a serious menace unless the source enters the system or remains on the skin for some time. Monitoring of Areas Monitoring of suspected contaminated areas for gamma radiation should be carried out at the earliest possible moment. Initially,

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